A tragic road accident on Saturday claimed the lives of 15 people in Mairuwa village, along the Funtua-Sokoto highway.

The Federal Road Safety Corps described the incident as ?avoidable and preventable,? citing poor vehicle maintenance and driver negligence as primary factors.

According to a statement signed by the state FRSC spokesperson, Olusegun Ogungbemide, on Saturday, the crash occurred around 11 am when a Toyota Hiace bus, carrying passengers from Kano, experienced a tyre burst, causing the driver to lose control.

The bus then collided head-on with a Sino truck operated by the Dangote Group. The impact resulted in multiple casualties, with most of the deceased being bus passengers.

?The Mairuwa crash involved a Toyota Hiace bus with registration number MRR 83 XA, which was carrying passengers from Kano and experienced a tyre burst in Mairuwa village. The tyre burst led to a loss of control, causing the driver to crash head-on into a Sino truck belonging to the Dangote Group.

?A total of 28 people were involved, comprising 23 male adults, 1 female adult, 1 male child, and 3 female children. Of this number, 13 victims (11 male adults, 1 female adult, and 1 male child) were rescued with varying injuries.

?Meanwhile, 15 victims comprising 11 male adults, 1 female adult, and 3 female children were killed. Most of the casualties were passengers on the bus,? the statement read in part.

The remaining 13 individuals, who sustained various injuries, were rushed to Funtua General Hospital for medical treatment.

Reacting to the incident, FRSC Corps Marshal Shehu Mohammed expressed deep concern over the recurring issue of poor vehicle maintenance on Nigerian roads.

Mohammed stated that compliance with traffic regulations, including routine checks and observing legal speed limits, could have averted the disaster.

?If the driver had observed the established legal speed limits, ensured adequate vehicle maintenance, and complied with traffic regulations, the crash would have been avoided,? he warned.

The FRSC chief also called on transport unions, fleet operators, and individual vehicle owners to prioritise safety by ensuring their vehicles are roadworthy.

He stressed the shared responsibility of all road users to maintain safe driving practices to prevent future accidents. (Saturday PUNCH, excluding headline)

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