Seven people have been confirmed dead and seven others injured after a Mazda car collided with a Toyota Sienna along the Bida-Kutigi-Mokwa Road in Niger State.
The latest casualty figure differs from an earlier report, which put the death toll at nine based on eyewitness accounts at the scene.
However, the Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, confirmed that seven people died, seven were injured, while four others escaped unhurt.
The Niger State Sector Commander of the FRSC, Corps Commander Aishat Sa’adu, who confirmed the incident, said 18 people were involved in the crash.
The accident occurred in the early hours of Sunday between the Lanle and Shaba Woro communities along the Bida-Kutigi-Mokwa Road.
According to Sa’adu, the crash involved a Mazda vehicle travelling from Minna towards Mokwa and a Toyota Sienna coming from Lagos towards Minna.
She said the injured victims were evacuated to the General Hospital, Kutigi, for medical treatment, while the bodies of the deceased were deposited at the mortuary.
Sa’adu attributed the crash to wrongful overtaking and loss of control by the Mazda driver.
She explained that the Mazda was reportedly attempting to overtake when the driver lost control and collided with the oncoming Sienna.
The crash caused serious damage to both vehicles, leaving several passengers trapped and requiring rescue operations by FRSC personnel.
Sa’adu urged motorists to exercise caution, avoid wrongful overtaking and maintain proper control of their vehicles, particularly when approaching bends and other sections of the highway where visibility is limited.
She also advised motorists to avoid speeding and take adequate rest during long journeys to reduce fatigue-related crashes.