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.