87 Injured in Yobe Trailer Accident, As One Dies

A fatal road accident on the Potiskum-Azare Road in Yobe State has resulted in one death and 87 injuries. The incident occurred on Wednesday afternoon at the Potiskum entrance roundabout.

According to the Yobe State Police Command, a trailer transporting passengers to the Potiskum cattle market overturned. Police Public Relations Officer SP Dungus Abdulkarim confirmed that preliminary investigation points to overloading as a factor.

“The injured victims were promptly evacuated to the Potiskum Specialist Hospital for medical attention, while the deceased has been deposited at the hospital morgue,” Abdulkarim stated. He added that a full investigation is underway and urged motorists to adhere to traffic regulations.

Survivors recounted that the vehicle was carrying nearly 100 people from Bauchi State. “We were coming from Azare… 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,” described one injured victim, Amir Dauda.

Other passengers acknowledged they boarded the overloaded trailer due to a lack of available transport on market day, despite being aware of the risks.

The influx of patients overwhelmed the local hospital’s emergency unit. A staff member, Murtala Lawan, highlighted the facility’s limitations, noting the unit is too small and poorly equipped to handle mass casualties, forcing many patients to be treated on the floor.

Authorities continue to investigate the precise causes of the accident.