34 perish in Niger auto crash

No fewer than 34 traders have been
reported dead in an auto crash on
Gadan Kuiwo along Rijau-Kontagora road
in Mariga Local Government Area of
Niger on Wednesday night.
Our correspondent gathered that a truck
conveying cattle from Gadan Zaimari in
Zamfara State with 78 traders was
heading to Lagos, when it had a head-on
collision with an oil tanker on a bridge at
about 11pm, which sent the truck
tumbling into the riverbed below.
The Federal Road Safety Commission
Unit Commander for Kontagora, Mr.
Pius Bagoohlepeng, told our reporter in
a telephone interview, that the driver of
the trailer was believed to be speeding
before the crash.
According to him, 34 traders died in the
crash, with most of them dying on the
spot, while 30 others were rushed to
hospitals in Kontagora.
He said most of the corpses had been
collected by their relations for burial
and that the injured were responding to
treatment at both public and private
health facilities within Kontagora town.
The Police Public Relations Officer, Mr.
Richard Oguche, also confirmed the
story and instructed motorists to
exercise caution and care when driving
on the road, which he said was under
reconstruction.