Four members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and a soldier have been confirmed dead following a tragic road accident along the Yola–Mubi highway in Adamawa State.
The fatal crash occurred on Wednesday at about 1:50 p.m. in the Narehi area of Girei/Song Local Government Area. The incident has thrown families, colleagues and members of the NYSC community into mourning.
The Adamawa State Police Command confirmed the incident in a statement issued on Thursday by its spokesperson, SP Suleiman Nguroje.
According to the police, the accident involved a military gun truck travelling from Gombi to Yola and a commercial Hummer bus carrying five passengers from Yola to Mubi.
Preliminary investigations showed that both vehicles collided head-on along the busy highway. The impact caused the commercial bus to overturn before it burst into flames.
All five passengers in the bus died in the fire. Emergency responders had little chance of rescuing the occupants because the vehicle was quickly engulfed by flames.
Nguroje said the intensity of the fire completely consumed the bus shortly after the collision.
Police investigations later revealed that four of the deceased passengers were serving corps members deployed to Adamawa State under the NYSC scheme.
The victims included Suleiman Juliet and Usman Shuaibu, both from Kaduna State. Authorities said efforts are ongoing to identify the remaining victims and notify their families.
The police also confirmed that a soldier attached to the military vehicle lost his life in the crash.
Authorities have yet to determine the exact cause of the accident. Investigators are examining the circumstances surrounding the collision.
The incident has renewed concerns about road safety on major highways. Many observers have pointed to the risks associated with routes frequently used by commercial and official vehicles.
Following the crash, police officers and emergency responders rushed to the scene. They recovered the victims and restored traffic flow along the affected section of the highway.
The remains of the deceased were later evacuated to the Specialist Hospital in Yola for further procedures.
Reacting to the tragedy, the Commissioner of Police in Adamawa State, Kabir Hassan, expressed condolences to the families of the victims, the Nigerian Armed Forces and the NYSC.
He described the incident as heartbreaking and unfortunate. He noted that the loss of young corps members and a military officer was a painful blow to their families and the institutions they served.
The police commissioner also urged motorists to exercise caution and obey traffic regulations. According to him, strict compliance with safety rules can help reduce accidents and save lives.
He assured the public that the command would continue its investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash.
The deaths of the four corps members and the soldier have sparked widespread grief among residents and members of the NYSC community.
Many people have taken to social media to mourn the victims. Others have called for stronger road safety measures to prevent similar tragedies across the country.
