Four persons were killed in two separate auto crashes on Mokwa-Bida Road in Niger between Friday and Sunday.
The deceased are two soldiers and two civilians, according to the FRSC Mokwa Sector Commander, Mr Adedoyin Adeyinka.
The first accident involved an Army Hilux vehicle and an articulated vehicle at Nakorgi village, about 43 kilometres from Mokwa, at about 7:30 p.m.
Adeyinka said the soldiers died in the crash while two others sustained some injuries.
He said that it took FRSC officials about five hours to remove the corpses of the deceased from the wreckage.
He said this was because some villagers, other motorists and officials of the FRSC had to use all available tools to cut through the vehicle to remove the corpses.
The sector commander said the quick intervention of the FRSC and villagers also saved the lives of two other soldiers, who were evacuated to Mokwa General Hospital for treatment.
He said the articulated vehicle driver was arrested and handed over to the police by the FRSC officials.
“We spent hours from 7.30 p.m. to 1 a.m. trying to separate the corpses from the mangled vehicle but the injured officers were rushed to Mokwa General Hospital and they are responding to treatment.”
Adeyinka said the second accident, involving a truck, occurred on Sunday on the same road, claiming the lives of a driver and a water melon dealer close to Mokwa town.
The FRSC official said the truck and a petrol tanker had a head-on collision.
“The truck driver and water melon dealer died on the spot and their corpses were conveyed to Mokwa General Hospital.
”We had a hectic time trying to stop people from scooping the fuel at the accident scene to avoid further loss of lives with the help of the police, ” he said.
He urged motorists to exercise caution while plying the route due to the bad state of the road, for the sake of their families and loved ones.
