At least 45 people were burnt beyond recognition in an accident along Agaie-Bida road in Niger State.
The accident involved a petrol laden tanker, a truck with cattle and a passenger vehicle.
It was gathered that the incident happened near Man-Woro village on Agaie-Bida road around 1am on Sunday.
The victims in the trailer with cattle were said to have taken off from Wudil, Kano State, heading for Lagos, while the passenger vehicle was reportedly going to Agaie Sunday market.
A resident, Abubakar Agaie, told our correspondent that 45 bodies were buried at Man-Woro village on Sunday morning.
Alhaji Wuchiko, a commercial driver, said he conveyed the driver of the tanker and another victim to Lapai General Hospital, adding that some survivors were taken to Federal Medical Centre, Bida.
It was gathered that the tanker fell while trying to meander through the deplorable Agaie-Bida road.
Another witness, Yahaya Mohammed, said they counted 45 corpses that were identified as human bodies, saying that the victims were burnt beyond recognition.
“The three vehicles were burnt down completely. As I speak with, we have counted 45 dead bodies that we could be able to recognize as human beings.
“What happened was that, the tanker fell down and cut fire. The other two vehicles; a passenger vehicle and a trailer loaded with goods and human beings, seeing the fire wanted to pass and they fell victim,” Mohammed explained.
When contacted, the Niger State Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Kumar Tsukwam, promised to get back with details but he had not done so as at the time of filing this report.
But the Director General, Niger State Emergency Management Agency, Alhaji Abdullahi Baba Arah, confirmed the incident.
Arah said, “Over 30 people are already confirmed dead, with over 50 cattle burnt alive. NSEMA’s Rapid Respond Team (RRT), in conjunction with LGEMCs, is still on scene of the incidence conducting search and response operation as more corpses are still trapped inside the trucks”.
Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago, in a statement on Sunday by his Chief Press Secretary, Bologi Ibrahim, expressed sadness over the incident, describing it as painful.
The governor said State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA) and other relevant organisations had been mobilised to the scene for rescue operation and other necessary actions.
While calling for calm, he urged road users to always be cautious and abide by road traffic regulations to safeguard lives and property.
The governor prayed that Allah will repose the souls of the departed and grant quick recovery to those injured.