The Borno State Police Command has confirmed the death of two police personnel in an auto crash in which 17 others were injured.
The accident occurred on Monday along Hawan Kibo road in Plateau while the policemen and women were enroute Uyo for the 2022 Police Games.
This is contained in a statement by the command Public Relations Officer, Sani Shatambaya, on Tuesday in Maiduguri.
He said that the contingent was to represent Zone 15 comprising Borno and Yobe commands at the Biannual Police Games in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.
The spokesman said that the accident occurred due to brake failure, adding that those who died were female constables.
“The Commissioner of Police, Borno Command, regrets the unfortunate accident, noting that the personnel who lost their lives and the injured victims have been conveyed back to Maiduguri,” he added.
According to Shatambaya, befitting burial was conducted for the dead while the injured are currently receiving treatment in various hospitals in Maiduguri.
“The commissioner of police, who led a delegation of the management team of Borno command, commiserated with the families of the deceased officers.
“He equally used the opportunity to wish the injured personnel quick recovery.
“He also prayed for the remaining team members that continued with their journey to participate in the ongoing I-G biennial Police games, journey mercies,” he said.
Also, the FRSC confirmed that 17 persons were killed while four others were injured in an auto crash on Kwali-Abaji Road, before Awawa in the FCT.
The Corps Public Education Officer, Bisi Kazeem, said this in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja.
Kazeem said the crash, which occurred about 6:30 a.m, involved two vehicles – a DAF Trailer with registration number BAU 632 XA and a Toyota Bus with registration details GME 201 ZU.
He said that the 22 persons involved in the accident were all males, adding that the injured victims were provided first aid treatment by rescue workers before being taken to hospital.
“Out of 22 victims, four persons sustained various degrees of injury, 17 died while one was rescued without any injury.
“Investigations revealed that the crash happened because of speed limit violations and fatigue,’’ he said.
Kazeem said that the corps emergency rescue team took the injured to Abaji General Hospital while the remains of the dead victims were deposited at the morgue.
Speaking on the crash, the Acting Corps Marshal, Dauda Biu advised drivers against violating prescribed speed limit.
He said that crash investigations conducted over the years attributed cause of major crashes in Nigeria to excessive violation of legal speed limit.
Biu also attributed the fatigue to the driver’s inability to observe adequate rest after night-long trip.
According to him, drivers’ attitude necessitated the sensitisation and subsequent enforcement of compulsory installation of Speed Limiting Device.
Biu, therefore, urged drivers to avoid night trips and always observe 30 minutes rest after every four hours drive to avoid accidents on the highways
He also urged them to desist from compromising road traffic regulations.
The acting corps marshal assured the public that the corps would step up operational activities to check traffic accidents.
Biu enjoined the public to always patronise the FRSC toll free line 122 and the National Traffic Radio 107.1 FM, to report emergencies.
