Speeding Bus Rams into Pedestrians, Kills Five, Injures 19

A tragic road accident claimed the lives of five people and left 19 others injured after a Toyota bus rammed into a crowd of pedestrians along the busy Kano-Maiduguri expressway on Monday afternoon. The incident occurred around 1 p.m. at the weekly market in Damagum, Fune Local Government Area of Yobe State.

Eyewitnesses say the accident happened when the bus, en route from Damaturu to Potiskum, lost control and veered into roadside traders and shoppers. A source at the market told *Daily Trust* that the bus was speeding and the driver appeared to lose control while trying to navigate through a crowded stretch of the highway. “The driver was trying to avoid people crossing the road. He applied the brakes, but they failed. The bus ended up crashing into a group of pedestrians, mostly traders,” the source recounted. Among the deceased was reportedly a pregnant woman.

Confirming the incident, the Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Yobe State, Livinus Longzen Yilzoom, said the crash was the result of speeding and brake failure. He explained that the driver attempted to swerve away from people crossing the road near the market area but couldn’t stop in time. The command has repeatedly warned against trading by the roadside, especially during market days, but compliance remains low.

Commander Yilzoom expressed condolences to the families of the victims and urged greater caution from both drivers and market vendors. He emphasized that safety regulations must be respected to prevent similar tragedies in the future.