12 Killed in Kano Road Crash as FRSC Blames Mechanical Failure

A tragic accident along the Zaria–Kano Highway has claimed the lives of at least 12 people in Samawa Village, Garun Malam Local Government Area of Kano State.

The crash, which happened in the early hours of Friday, involved a DAF Trailer with registration number KMC 931 ZE. The vehicle, said to be carrying both goods and passengers, reportedly developed a mechanical fault when its cab hook broke, causing the cab to detach from the trailer’s body and leading to a loss of control.

Out of the 19 people caught in the accident, 12 were confirmed dead, five sustained injuries, while two others escaped without harm.

According to a statement issued by the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Public Education Officer, Assistant Corps Marshal Olusegun Ogungbemide, the bodies of the deceased were deposited at the Nasarawa Hospital Mortuary, while the injured are receiving treatment at Kura General Hospital.

The Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, who reacted to the incident, described it as an avoidable tragedy. He called on transport operators to urgently replace mechanically unsafe vehicles in their fleets.

“The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has once again called on transport owners to prioritise periodic fleet renewal and proper vehicle maintenance following a tragic lone crash that claimed 12 lives at Samawa Village, Garun Malam Local Government Area of Kano State, on August 15, 2025,” the statement partly read.

Mohammed further warned against the dangerous practice of mixing goods, animals, and passengers in the same vehicle, stressing that such violations would now attract tougher sanctions.

While commiserating with the families of the deceased, the Corps Marshal reiterated that the FRSC would intensify enforcement against speed violations, overloading, and poor vehicle maintenance, especially within the trucking sector.

He emphasized that the recurring fatalities from preventable crashes highlight the urgent need for haulage operators to adopt modern fleet renewal practices, adding that road safety in Nigeria is a shared responsibility requiring collective action to curb needless loss of lives.