- Safiu Kehinde
No fewer than four people have been crushed to death in a tragic accident involving three trucks at the annual Eggon carnival in Nasarawa-Eggon Local Government Area (LGA), Nasarawa State.
This was disclosed in a statement issued by the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Nasarawa Sector.
According to Yahaya Sabo-Adikwu, the FRSC Sector Commander, the accident happened on Sunday.
One of the trucks reportedly rammed into a procession from the Palace of Aren Eggon, Paramount Ruler of the Eggon people, to Eggon Community Secondary School, venue of the annual carnival.
Sabo-Adikwu said that apart from the four deaths, several others sustained varying degrees of injuries and were receiving treatment at the Nassarawa-Eggon General Hospital.
The FRSC Sector Commander, who attributed the accident to reckless driving, said the bodies of the deceased have been deposited at the Federal University of Lafia Teaching Hospital, Lafia.
Meanwhile, an eyewitness told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the truck lost control and rammed into the carnival procession near the Eggon Community Secondary School, venue of the carnival, while two other rammed into the accident from the rear.
The eyewitness said that the driver of the trucks were reckless and called for a thorough investigation into the matter.
He emphasised the need for drivers, especially those driving articulated vehicles to undergo drug tests before being allowed to drive on Nigerian roads.