No fewer than nine persons have been confirmed dead following a road traffic accident involving a fuel tanker and a passenger vehicle at Kabarin Bature village in Gashaka Local Government Area of Taraba State.

Security and local sources said the accident occurred on April 21 when the tanker collided with the vehicle, resulting in the immediate death of seven passengers at the scene.

Six other victims who sustained injuries were evacuated to General Hospital, Bali, for treatment, where two of them were later confirmed dead.

The sources further disclosed that among the deceased were the wife and two children of a soldier currently deployed at Forward Operating Base (FOB) Buratai under Operation HADIN KAI.

The bodies of the deceased, along with other victims, have been deposited at the hospital mortuary.

Authorities have commenced investigation into the circumstances surrounding the accident. (Text, excluding headline: Zagazola)