Nine killed in Sokoto auto crash after wedding ceremony
Nine persons has reportedly lost their lives on Saturday night when a petroleum tanker and a Peugeot 406 car collided at Hausari village on the Sokoto-Tambuwal Road in Sokoto State. The accident occurred at about 7.30pm, three kilometres from Dogon Daji town. The Peugeot 406 was part of a wedding delegation conveying a bride to Sokoto from Dogon-Daji, about 76km from Sokoto, while the petrol tanker was travelling from Sokoto to Jega in Kebbi State. A reporter with the Nigerian Television Authority, Sokoto Network Centre, Umar Dogon-Daji, told the News Agency of Nigeria on Sunday that two other persons were receiving treatment at the Uthmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto. Dogon-Daji said that eight of the deceased persons were all relatives of the bride, while a co-driver of the petrol tanker was among those who died. He said: “I attended the burial of the eight deceased persons, comprising a man, four women and three children aged between 18 months and three years. “The burial was conducted around 10am on Sunday and they were thereafter buried at the Dogon-daji cemetery.” According to Dogon-Daji, the remains of the co-driver has been taken away by his relatives. A younger sister of the bride, Iklima Tafida, also told NAN on Sunday that their family and the entire town had been thrown into a state of mourning following the incident. “We are all confused and shocked, although we strongly believe that God knows best,” Tafida added. The Sector Commander of the Federal Roads Safety Commission, Dr. Umar Gummi, however, told NAN that the auto crash was yet to be reported to the command. Also, the spokesman of the state police command, DSP El-Mustapha Sani, said the Divisional Police Officers in Tambuwal and Shagari had not reported the incident. Sani said: “I have been trying to get their lines but could not do so up to now. “I will furnish you with the details anytime i get them.” Source: NAN
