A tragic road accident along the Alkaleri–Gombe Federal Highway has claimed the lives of seven people and left 41 others seriously injured, according to an updated First Information Report (FIR) from the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Bauchi Sector Command.
The fatal crash occurred around 3:00 p.m. at Kirfi Junction and involved a commercial DAF trailer. The lone accident was reportedly caused by a mechanical fault — a structural failure that led to the trailer’s head detaching from its body while in motion.
The report, made available by the RS12.13 Alkaleri Unit Command, revealed that 48 people were onboard, comprising 38 adult males and 10 male children. Of these, seven adult males died instantly, while 41 others sustained varying degrees of injuries — 25 adult males and 16 male children.
FRSC officials responded to the distress call at 3:02 p.m., arriving at the scene by 3:50 p.m., within a 48-minute response time. The injured were taken to the General Hospital in Alkaleri, with several later transferred to the Specialist Hospital in Bauchi for advanced treatment. The bodies of the deceased were deposited at the morgue and subsequently handed over to their families for burial.
The rescue operation was coordinated by DRC H.Y. Danjuma on behalf of the Unit Commander.
Governor Bala Mohammed Condoles with Victims, Announces N50m Relief
In response to the tragedy, Bauchi State Governor, Senator Bala Mohammed, visited Kirfi Local Government Area on Friday to condole with the victims and their families. During the visit, the governor announced a ₦50 million relief package.
Each bereaved family will receive ₦2 million, injured victims still undergoing treatment will be given ₦1 million, and those discharged from the hospital will receive ₦500,000.
The governor further pledged that additional support would be provided through the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA).
Describing the incident as deeply painful, Governor Mohammed expressed sadness over the loss of lives — many of them young — and condemned the reckless practice of overloading trucks with passengers, calling it “irresponsible and unacceptable.”
Authorities are urging transport operators and drivers to adhere strictly to safety regulations to prevent further loss of lives on the highways.
