Keypoints:
- Bus in wedding convoy rolls into river
- At least 19 women and children killed
- Driver may have failed to apply hand brake
AT least 19 women and children were killed when a bus carrying wedding guests plunged into a river in northern Nigeria, local officials and residents confirmed on Sunday.
The accident happened on Saturday evening near the village of Fass in Zamfara state as the vehicle travelled in a wedding convoy escorting a bride to her new husband’s home. The bus was headed to Jega in neighbouring Kebbi state.
Partially collapsed bridge blamed
According to Abubakar Muhammed of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), the driver stopped the bus on a bridge that had partially collapsed. Muhammed told AFP that the bus then rolled backwards into the river.
‘The driver may have forgotten to use the hand brake,’ he said, adding that the bridge’s weakened structure contributed to the disaster.
Residents confirm heavy toll
Residents of Fass corroborated the death toll, saying all the victims were women and children who were travelling as part of the wedding procession. Emergency response teams and locals worked late into the night to recover bodies from the river.
Calls for improved infrastructure
The incident highlights Nigeria’s persistent challenges with road safety and ageing infrastructure. Poorly maintained bridges and roads in remote areas have been linked to several fatal accidents in recent years.
Authorities have yet to issue a formal statement on the tragedy or announce plans for an investigation. Community leaders are urging the government to repair damaged bridges and improve safety measures to prevent similar incidents.
