One person has been confirmed dead while 87 others sustained injuries following a road accident involving a trailer along the Potiskum–Azare Road in Yobe State.
The incident occurred around 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday at the Potiskum entrance roundabout in Potiskum Local Government Area, when a trailer conveying passengers to the Potiskum cattle market reportedly lost control and overturned.
Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer of the Yobe State Command, SP Dungus Abdulkarim, said the injured victims were immediately evacuated to the Potiskum Specialist Hospital for treatment, while the deceased was deposited at the hospital morgue.
“The Yobe State Police Command confirms a lone fatality and 87 injured persons following a road traffic accident involving a trailer at the Potiskum entrance roundabout,” Abdulkarim said.
He explained that preliminary investigations revealed the vehicle was overloaded with passengers, adding that a full investigation had commenced to determine both the immediate and remote causes of the crash.
“We urge motorists and the general public to strictly comply with traffic regulations to avoid such unfortunate incidents,” he added.
Survivors said the trailer was carrying nearly 100 passengers from Katagum Local Government Area of Bauchi State to the popular Potiskum cattle market when it overturned near the roundabout.
One of the victims, Amir Dauda, who spoke from his hospital bed, said the accident happened as the vehicle approached Potiskum town.
“The trailer was filled with people. As we got close to the roundabout, the driver tried to manoeuvre and suddenly the vehicle stumbled and fell. Everything happened very fast,” he said.
Another injured passenger, Ibrahim Sadiq, explained that many passengers boarded the trailer due to a lack of available transportation, especially on market days, despite being aware of the risks involved.
A third victim, Musa Adamu, described the scene as chaotic, noting that several passengers were injured and crying for help until good Samaritans and road users intervened.
Meanwhile, a visit to the emergency unit of the Potiskum Specialist Hospital revealed that several injured victims were lying on the floor due to inadequate space.
A hospital staff member, Murtala Lawan, expressed concern over the facility’s limited capacity, describing the emergency unit as too small and poorly equipped to handle mass casualty situations.
“Our staff are doing their best under very difficult conditions, but we urgently need expansion, more equipment, and support to properly respond to emergencies of this nature,” Lawan said.
