Plateau crash death toll rises to 21, road safety officials say

The death toll from multiple road crashes on Hawan Kibo Road in Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State has risen to 21, according to the Federal Road Safety Corps. FRSC Sector Commander Adelaja Ogungbemi disclosed the updated figure after visiting the scene on Saturday with the corps’s zonal commanding officer, Assistant Corps Marshal Joseph Udoabba. The accident occurred on Friday evening when a truck reportedly suffered brake failure and struck other vehicles travelling towards Jos.

The vehicles involved included the truck, a Hummer bus and a motorcycle. The Hummer bus caught fire after the impact, and several people were trapped inside, according to the account provided. FRSC officials inspected the crash site and assessed the damage during their visit.

Ogungbemi and Udoabba urged motorists to exercise greater caution and ensure that vehicles are properly maintained. They specifically highlighted regular checks of critical components, including braking systems, which they said are important to preventing avoidable crashes and deaths. The FRSC has continued managing traffic around the scene, while efforts are under way to remove the damaged vehicles and recover victims.

The source material did not give a separate figure for people injured in the Plateau crash. The incident adds to a series of fatal road accidents reported in Nigeria. The material cited recent crashes in Adamawa, on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway and in Ogun State, but did not establish a common cause or provide a national total.

The Plateau authorities’ immediate focus remained on the crash site, traffic management and recovery operations. The FRSC’s warning placed responsibility on motorists and vehicle owners to check vehicles before travelling, especially their brakes.