Boko Haram militants on motorcycles attacked a Nigerian village, killing over 100, residents say
Associated PressAUG 20 2024
At least 59 people have died after a fuel tanker collided with a lorry carrying travelers and cattle in central Nigeria's Niger state at about 00:30 local time on Sunday (19:30 ET Saturday).
According to the Niger State Emergency Management Agency, rescue operations were underway at the site of the accident, and the deceased had been given a mass burial.
A spokesman for the Niger state emergency unit said that "more dead bodies could be discovered in the process of the continued evacuation, adding that the state government is paying for the injured people's hospital treatment.
With such fatal crashes along most major roads in Nigeria becoming a norm, it's clear the country's road safety measures are inadequate. The poor state of roads and the absence of an efficient railway system to transport cargo, especially fuel, has caused tremendous loss of lives and property. It's high time the government recognizes road traffic accidents as a critical issue that demands immediate attention.
Reckless driving, overloading, overspeeding, and poorly maintained vehicles account for more than half of road accident-related deaths in Nigeria. Such devastating tragedies can be avoided if people imbibe safe road use attributes and desist from breaking road traffic regulations. While the cause of Sunday's accident is yet to be determined, the law must come down hard on all erring drivers involved in fatal crashes and have their licenses suspended for endangering the lives of road users.