No fewer than 23 people lost their lives, while four others sustained critical injuries in two separate auto crashes that occurred on Tuesday along the Dutse–Kiyawa Road and at Bandawa village in Ringim Local Government Area of Jigawa State.
The first accident occurred at Danmasara Quarters along the Dutse–Kiyawa Road and involved two Golf 3 vehicles and a tipper truck. Eyewitnesses described the incident as tragic and devastating.
An eyewitness, Abdullahi Idris, a resident of Danmasara Quarters, said a white Golf 3 vehicle lost control, rammed into a streetlight, and collided with another Golf 3 coming from the opposite direction before a tipper truck crushed both vehicles.
“It was horrific. The vehicles were badly mangled,” he said.
Another eyewitness, Muhammad Ibrahim, also attributed the crash to speeding.
“The vehicles were speeding when the white Golf 3 lost control. The impact was massive, and people were trapped inside. We heard screams and cries for help,” he said.
A female eyewitness, Fatima Hassan, noted that most of the victims were from Fake village in Kiyawa Local Government Area.
“I heard a loud crash and saw people running to help. It was a terrible sight, and I am still shaken,” she said.
Confirming the incident, the Public Relations Officer of the Jigawa State Police Command, SP Shi’isu Adam, said the crash occurred at about 12:20 p.m.
“Sixteen people died instantly, two died later at the hospital, while two others sustained critical injuries,” he said, adding that the vehicles involved had registration numbers KYW 500 XA, RAN 836 XA, and BUU 289 XA.
According to Adam, preliminary findings revealed that 18 of the deceased—10 males and eight females—were from Fake village, Kiyawa Local Government Area.
The second accident occurred at Bandawa village in Ringim Local Government Area along the Babura Road. It involved an ash-coloured Honda Accord.
“The driver, Yunusa Hassan, reportedly lost control while attempting to avoid a goat and crashed into a tree,” Adam said.
He added that five women and one man lost their lives, while two other occupants sustained fractures. The injured were rushed to the hospital, where five deaths were confirmed.
Adam stated that investigations had commenced to determine the exact causes of both accidents.
“The Commissioner of Police condoles with the families of the victims and prays for the repose of the souls of the deceased and the speedy recovery of the injured,” he said.
He also urged motorists to exercise caution on major highways, particularly along the Dutse–Kiyawa Road.
“Speeding and reckless driving are suspected factors, but investigations will establish the exact causes. Our priority is to prevent further accidents and support affected families,” he added.
The incident comes barely days after another fatal crash on December 25, 2025, along Sankara Road in Ringim Local Government Area, where 11 people lost their lives and nine others sustained injuries.
