Tragedy on Yola-Girei Highway: Six Die as Sand-Laden Truck Crushes Tricycle

Tragedy struck along the Yola-Girei Federal Highway in Adamawa State on Friday when a sand-laden truck collided with a commercial tricycle, leaving six people dead. The Adamawa State Police Command confirmed the fatal crash.

The victims comprised the tricycle operator and five passengers who were travelling in the three-wheeled vehicle, popularly known as Keke NAPEP. According to the police, the victims were taken to Yola Specialist Hospital, where they were confirmed dead.

The Command’s spokesperson, SP Sulaiman Nguroje, confirmed the incident to the News Agency of Nigeria in Yola on Friday, saying preliminary information indicated that six people had lost their lives in the crash.

The crash occurred along the busy highway in Girei Local Government Area, causing concern among road users and commercial transport operators in the area.

Following the accident, commercial tricycle operators reportedly took to the highway in protest, blocking part of the road and disrupting vehicular movement along the route.

Police personnel were mobilised to the scene to evacuate the victims and work towards restoring normal traffic movement. The Command also appealed to members of the public to remain calm as authorities addressed the aftermath of the incident.

SP Nguroje said the police would not overlook violations of the law arising from the incident, warning that anyone found culpable would face the appropriate legal process.

The police further urged motorists and other road users to exercise caution, obey traffic regulations and avoid behaviour that could endanger lives as investigations into the circumstances surrounding the collision continue.

The latest crash has also heightened concerns over road safety along the Yola-Girei corridor. Reports indicate that it was the third fatal incident in Adamawa in less than two weeks involving loss of lives, underscoring renewed concerns about safety on the state’s roads.

For the families of the six victims, however, the immediate consequence is the loss of loved ones in a sudden road tragedy, while authorities continue their response and investigation into the circumstances that led to the fatal collision.