At least 18 passengers have been confirmed dead following a horrific head-on collision between two commercial vehicles along the Dutsinma–Karofi–Radda Road in Katsina State.
The News Chronicle gathered that the crash occurred at about 8:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 31, 2026, when two Golf commercial buses travelling in opposite directions reportedly lost control and collided.
One of the vehicles was conveying wedding guests from Dutsinma, while the other was en route from Kano with passengers.
The impact triggered a fire outbreak, leaving both vehicles engulfed in flames and three passengers severely burnt.
The bodies of the deceased were evacuated to the General Hospital, Dutsinma, as rescue efforts continued.
Tragically, the victims included a newlywed couple and several of their friends, who were returning from their wedding Fatiha.
A friend of the groom, Zakari Haradu Aboro, who was part of the wedding entourage, described the incident as devastating.
“Moments after leaving the bride’s house for Kafin Soli, we received a call from an unknown number, informing us that the phone’s owner had died in a fatal accident,” Aboro said.
He explained that panic set in when they later realised the victim was one of the groom’s friends.
“Before we could reach the scene, the news had spread that the vehicle carrying the groom, his bride, and their friends had crashed. Sixteen people died instantly, including the newlyweds. It is an unbearable loss.”
He offered prayers for the affected families, asking Allah to grant them strength and comfort amid the tragedy.
