8 family members including pregnant women killed along Kaduna-Zaria highway

A devastating auto crash along the Kaduna-Zaria expressway has claimed the lives of eight members of one family, leaving two others critically injured.

The victims were reportedly struck by a speeding vehicle while waiting by the roadside during the Eid-el-Kabir celebrations.

The crash occurred around 6 p.m. on Monday in the Barakallahu area, as the family prepared to return home after visiting their grandmother.

Witnesses said the vehicle involved, an ash-coloured Mercedes GLK Jeep, was driven by a young boy from Rigachikun. The driver reportedly lost control, veering off the road and slamming into the unsuspecting pedestrians. He fled the scene immediately. Locals allege the boy is the son of a well-known political figure in the community.

“We lost eight members of our family that evening,” said Malam Jamilu Usman Mai Yadi, who lives in Sabon Gari, Tudun Wada. “My wife, Khadija Umar, my two children – Sadiq, 16, and Muhammad, 9, her younger and elder sisters, and their aunt all died. In total, ten members of my family were hit; eight died and two are still in the hospital.”

According to Mai Yadi, the group was standing at the roadside hoping to secure a ride when the vehicle, allegedly speeding on the rain-slicked road, struck them.

“The driver must have been speeding because my wife’s leg was broken beyond repair. Sadiq’s body was only brought back to us later by Road Safety officials,” he added.

Among the deceased was Zainab Muhammad, who was eight months pregnant with twins. Her husband, Sulaiman Abdulkadir Mai Shinkafa, a cleric from Hayin Rigasa, recounted the horrifying aftermath.

“She was due to give birth very soon. All the baby items were ready. We even named the unborn twins Hassan and Hussaini. Our 6-year-old son Khalid was also hit,” he told reporters. “Her body was crushed. My son’s bones were shattered. We had to use planks to gather their remains before burial. It’s something no family should ever witness.”

Grieving families expressed anger over the silence from both the alleged driver’s family and government authorities.

“No one from the boy’s family whose father was a prominent politician in the community or from the Kaduna State government has come to condole with us. Not even a word,” Mai Shinkafa said. “Even the father of the driver didn’t show up. It’s as though our lives don’t matter.”

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) confirmed the incident, blaming it on excessive speed and the wet conditions of the road. Sector Commander Tijjani Iliyasu provided further insight.

“What happened is that the driver lost control of the vehicle. It was raining heavily, and the road was slippery. From our assessment, he was over-speeding and rammed into people standing by the roadside,” he said. “Six people died on the spot. We immediately rescued the injured and rushed them to the hospital. By the time we arrived, the driver and others inside the vehicle had fled. They used the cover of night to abandon the vehicle. We don’t know who exactly was driving.”

He confirmed that the case has been turned over to the Nigerian Police for further investigation.

“As of now, the vehicle has been handed over to the police, and they should be able to trace the owner,” Iliyasu stated. “Our focus at the scene was to save lives, and we did just that.”

Despite the severity of the incident, the Kaduna State Police Command has not issued any statement. Repeated efforts to reach the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Mansir Hassan, were unsuccessful as his phone remained unreachable at the time of filing this report. The state government has also remained silent days after the crash.

(DAILY TRUST)