A tragic accident occurred on Friday at the Mile 6 Market in Jalingo, Taraba State, as a speeding tipper truck lost control and rammed into a busy crowd of traders and shoppers, leaving several feared dead and many others injured.
Eyewitnesses said the truck, which was carrying a load of shaft sand, suffered a tyre burst while travelling at high speed. The driver reportedly lost control, causing the vehicle to veer off the road and plough into the crowded market area.
“It happened so fast. The truck was speeding, and after the tyre burst, the driver couldn’t steer. It just rammed into people,” a shocked local vendor told our correspondent.
Emergency responders, including the police and medical teams, arrived quickly at the scene to assist victims and transport the injured to nearby hospitals. However, the exact number of casualties has not been confirmed at the time of filing this report.
The driver of the truck has been arrested and is currently in police custody as investigations into the cause of the crash continue.
The incident has thrown the Jalingo community into mourning and raised fresh concerns over road safety and vehicle maintenance in the state. Local authorities have appealed for calm and promised support for the families of those affected by the disaster.
Residents and traders are now calling on the government to enforce stricter road safety laws to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
