Four students have died in a road accident involving a vehicle in the convoy of Niger State governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago, along Minna–Bida Road.
The crash occurred around 11 a.m. on Monday at Gidan Mongoro, on the outskirts of Minna, when a Hilux van in the governor’s convoy collided head-on with a private car.
The convoy was reportedly returning from Bida, where Bago had attended the Fida’u prayer for the late Sagin Nupe.
An eyewitness, Danjuma Umar, a resident of Gidan Mongoro, alleged that the crash occurred when the Hilux driver attempted to overtake another vehicle and rammed into the oncoming car.
The occupants of the private car were postgraduate students of the Federal University of Technology, Minna.
The car was reportedly driven by a woman who lived in Gidan Mongoro.
Three victims reportedly died at the scene, while another died after being taken to the hospital, bringing the death toll to four.
The deceased were identified as Nafisat Abubakar Aguye, a hub manager, Ibrahim Ado Bayero and George.
The identity of the fourth victim was not immediately available.
Among those injured was Dauda Chukuba, a former chairman of Shiroro Local Government Area and Director-General of Government House, who was reportedly receiving treatment at the IBB Specialist Hospital in Minna.
A former local government chairman travelling in the Hilux was also reported to have sustained fractures to his legs.
The injured victims were taken to Minna General Hospital, with some subsequently referred to the IBB Specialist Hospital for further treatment.
The Niger State Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps, Aishat Sa’adu, confirmed the accident, explaining that her personnel arrived after the victims had been evacuated from the scene.
She confirmed that the crash resulted in casualties but could not immediately establish the total number of people involved.
The incident also drew attention to the capacity of the state’s public health facilities to respond to emergencies, following reports that a medical officer at Minna General Hospital raised concerns about the availability of personnel on the ground to attend to the injured.
The officer was subsequently alleged to have been arrested by security operatives attached to the governor.
However, the circumstances surrounding the reported arrest had yet to be independently verified.
The accident occurred on the same day the governor was expected to attend the inauguration of the All Progressives Congress Campaign Council in Niger State.
The Police Public Relations Officer of the Niger State Command, Superintendent of Police Wasiu Abiodun, confirmed the incident and said the accident was under investigation. He did not, however, give the names or numbers of the deceased.
“The accident occurred this morning, and we are investigating it,” Abiodun said.
