A truck overloaded with food items and more than 200 people crashed, killing 25 passengers and injuring dozens of others in north-central Nigeria’s Niger state, according to reports.
“The truck was on its way to Nigeria’s economic hub of Lagos when it crashed in Takalafia village in Niger’s Magama district,” reports said.
“The passengers wanted to travel with the trailer to avoid unsafe roads during the day,” according to Niger Gov. Mohammed Umaru Bago.
“The passengers were not mindful of the nature of the road and the goods it was conveying,” he added.
“25 victims have been taken to a nearby mortuary while other passengers were being treated for their injuries,” he stated.
Nigerian President Bola Tinubu mourned the victims and urged commuters to drive safely, especially as the festive season approaches.
The president describes the incident as a harrowing tragedy and directs the agency responsible for emergency response to immediately move in and ensure that those injured get the necessary treatment.