Tragedy struck in Sokoto State as no fewer than six youths from Rabah Local Government Area lost their lives in a fatal road accident in Talata Mafara, Zamfara State, while returning from Kano ahead of the Sallah celebrations.
NGBREAKINGNEWS Metro learnt that the victims were among over 18 passengers travelling in a commercial vehicle from Kano, where they had reportedly gone in search of livelihood opportunities.
A resident of Rabah, Malam Abubakar Chibau, told our correspondent on Tuesday that the accident, which occurred on Monday, claimed the lives of six passengers, many of whom were breadwinners for their families.
According to him, the chairman of Rabah Local Government immediately contacted his counterpart in Talata Mafara after receiving news of the incident to coordinate the evacuation of the victims and support for the injured.
“When we got information about the accident, the chairman of Rabah Local Government sought assistance from the chairman of Talata Mafara Local Government to facilitate the return of the corpses and provide help for the injured victims,” Chibau said.
He added that the injured passengers were taken to the Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto, for treatment, while the bodies of the deceased were conveyed back to Rabah late Monday night.
“The victims were buried on Tuesday morning after funeral prayers attended by hundreds of sympathisers,” he added.
Chibau further disclosed that the driver of the commercial vehicle and his assistant also died in the crash, while several other passengers are still receiving treatment.
One of the grieving fathers, Malam Basiru, who lost his son, Jamilu, described the deceased as a hardworking trader and devoted family man.
“My son was a fish trader in Kano. He is survived by two wives and six children. He called his family around 10am and told them they had stopped in Gusau to eat and would arrive in Sokoto around 2pm,” he said.
“But around 2pm, I received another call informing me that he had died in the accident at Talata Mafara.”
Basiru appealed to the state and local governments to support the bereaved families, noting that many of the deceased were sole providers for their households.
Another resident, Malam Abubakar Mika’ilu, who lost his elder brother, Muhammad Ameen, said the deceased had spent nearly three decades travelling to Kano in search of a livelihood.
“He left behind his wife and seven children. His death is a huge loss to the family,” he lamented.
