A devastating accident in the early hours of Thursday claimed the lives of at least eight students from the University of Jos, UNIJOS, in Plateau State.

The students were traveling in a bus after a night outing when a trailer reportedly lost control and collided with their vehicle on Zaria Road in the Jos metropolis.

 

Eyewitnesses say the fatal crash occurred around 2:00 AM as the students were heading home from an event. Two hired buses were carrying the students, and they were traveling along Zaria Road when disaster struck.

The trailer, which was speeding, allegedly suffered a brake failure and crashed into one of the buses near the Zaria Road Stadium area. The collision caused the bus driver to lose control, sending the vehicle crashing into an electric pole just before the Farin Gada bridge.

 

In addition to the eight students who were killed instantly, the bus driver also lost his life. Two other students survived the accident and were rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment.

A survivor described the horror of the crash, “The collision tore the bus apart, killing eight of us on the spot. It happened so quickly. We were sitting in the back, so the impact wasn’t as severe for us, but the force of the crash sent the bus into an electric pole. The entire vehicle broke apart.”

 

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The survivor continued, “We didn’t even see the trailer coming. It was so sudden. Everyone was screaming, and then the crash happened.”

Authorities have yet to officially confirm the incident, but a senior officer with the Plateau State Police told Daily Post that a manhunt is underway for the driver of the trailer, who fled the scene after the accident.

 

The tragedy has sent shockwaves through the University of Jos community, with students, faculty, and the wider public mourning the loss of young lives. The university has not yet released an official statement, but many are already offering their condolences to the victims’ families.

 

The incident has also raised concerns over road safety and the condition of commercial vehicles in the region. Authorities are urging all drivers to exercise caution, particularly during the late hours of the night, when fatigue and poor visibility can contribute to accidents.

 

 

Source: Punch