Ibrahim Ibrahim
Residents of Jigawa State have raised alarm over a surge in road traffic accidents that claimed at least 38 lives within four days, calling on the government to urgently revive the transport policy introduced under former Governor Sule Lamido.
The appeal follows a series of fatal crashes recorded in Ringim and Dutse Local Government Areas, leaving dozens dead, several others injured, and properties worth millions of naira destroyed.
On Friday, no fewer than 11 people lost their lives while 12 others sustained varying degrees of injuries in an accident along the Ringim–Sankara–Beguwa Road. The crash involved a Volkswagen Golf vehicle conveying about 23 passengers.
Preliminary findings by the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) attributed the incident to overloading and excessive speeding, which reportedly caused a tyre burst and subsequent loss of control.
Earlier in the week, a separate accident in Dutse Local Government Area claimed 22 lives when a trailer carrying sand collided with two Gulf vehicles transporting passengers to a wedding ceremony along the Kwanar Huguna–Dutse Municipal Road.
The Jigawa State Police Command confirmed the incident, noting that several other passengers were injured.
In another tragic development, five members of the same family were killed in a lone accident at Bandawa village in Ringim LGA after a vehicle reportedly veered off the road while trying to avoid a goat and crashed into a tree. Two other occupants survived the accident and are currently receiving medical treatment.
Reacting to the incidents, residents described the frequency of road crashes in the state as alarming and unacceptable.
They noted that despite the relatively good condition of most roads in Jigawa, human factors particularly reckless driving, speeding, and overloading—remain the major causes of fatal accidents.
A resident of Dutse, Malam Muntari, lamented the loss of lives on roads that are considered safe.
“The problem is not the roads but the drivers. Some overload their vehicles and still drive at high speed,” he said.
Other residents condemned the common practice of transporting passengers alongside heavy goods, describing it as dangerous and irresponsible.
“Unfortunately, the boots of vehicles meant for goods have become seats for passengers, while goods are loaded on top,” one resident said, adding that some commercial vehicles now carry up to 11 or 12 passengers at a time.
The residents urged the Federal Road Safety Corps, the police, and other relevant agencies to intensify enforcement of traffic regulations and ensure that violators are punished to deter others.
They also called on the Jigawa State Government to revive the stricter transport policy enforced during the administration of former Governor Sule Lamido, which limited the number of passengers in commercial vehicles and, according to residents, significantly reduced road casualties at the time.
They further appealed to passengers to play their part by refusing to board overloaded vehicles, stressing that collective responsibility is essential to curb the rising incidence of road accidents in the state.