A devastating accident occurred on the Muhammadu Buhari Bridge in Kano, leaving several people dead and others injured after a trailer lost control while navigating a busy stretch of road. The crash, which took place on Thursday, has raised serious concerns about the safety of the bridge and the frequent incidents involving large vehicles in the area.
The trailer, which was headed for the southern part of Nigeria, reportedly lost control while trying to navigate the underpass tunnel that connects the Zaria Highway with the Ring Road. According to eyewitnesses, the vehicle, which was carrying both goods and people, slipped inside the underpass, leading to an overturned wreck that caused multiple fatalities and injuries.
One of the eyewitnesses, Shu’aibu Hamisu, described the scene as chaotic and horrifying. “The trailer was coming from Maiduguri Road, trying to navigate the interchange, but it couldn’t maintain control and slipped inside the underpass,” Hamisu said. “Some of the victims were lucky enough to be rescued, but unfortunately, many of them lost their lives on the spot.”
Another social media user, Yahya Abubakar Sadiq, gave a grim report of the accident. “Right now, at Hotoro NNPC, under the bridge from Mariri to Unguwa Uku, a truck (Tarela) has overturned, carrying both people and goods. At least more than twenty people were involved, some have lost their lives, while others have sustained serious injuries,” Sadiq wrote. His post has since garnered widespread attention as people from various parts of the city voiced their shock and sorrow over the incident.
This tragic accident is not an isolated incident. In the past year, several similar accidents have occurred at the same spot, with trailers carrying animals, food items, and passengers from the northern regions of Nigeria to the south. Business owners and residents around the area have long raised concerns over the safety of the bridge, especially when large vehicles are involved.
Business operators near the Muhammadu Buhari Bridge have explained that these accidents are often the result of reckless driving by the truck drivers, who fail to take into account the vulnerability of their vehicles when passing under the bridge.
The Kano State Fire Service, which responded to the scene, confirmed the accident and began working to gather more details. The spokesperson for the fire service, Saminu Yusif Abdullahi, stated, “We are currently gathering all the necessary information to better understand what led to the accident and how we can prevent such incidents in the future. Our personnel are on the ground to assist with the rescue operations.”
The increasing number of road accidents involving large trucks has become a growing concern in Nigeria. Across the country, similar incidents involving trailers have claimed countless lives. Many of these accidents are due to poor road conditions, overloaded vehicles, reckless driving, and a lack of proper enforcement of traffic rules.
In Kano, the Muhammadu Buhari Bridge has emerged as a hotspot for these accidents, with trailers frequently losing control while trying to navigate the underpass. The road leading to the bridge is often congested, and with many trucks trying to pass through quickly, accidents like the one on Thursday morning are a common occurrence.
One possible factor contributing to the accidents is the condition of the road itself. While the Muhammadu Buhari Bridge is an important route connecting Kano’s busy commercial areas, the underpass tunnel seems to pose particular difficulties for large vehicles. The lack of proper signage or road safety measures for drivers passing through this area is also a contributing factor.
