Agency Report
Many traders and shoppers reportedly lost their lives in an accident at Mile 6 Market in Jalingo, the Taraba State capital.
According to a counterinsurgency publication, Zagazola Makama, the accident occurred around midday on Saturday when a truck carrying sand lost control and rammed into the crowded market.
Eyewitnesses said the vehicle was travelling at high speed when one of its front tyres suddenly burst, causing the driver to lose control.
The driver, unable to regain control, swerved into the busy marketplace, crushing people and flattening stalls in its path.
“It happened so fast. The truck was on speed and after the tyre burst, the driver could not control it. It just rammed into the crowd,” Musa Ibrahim, a local vendor at the scene, said.
According to Makama, several people sustained serious injuries, while many others died.
The report added that emergency responders and security personnel arrived shortly after to rescue victims and transport them to nearby hospitals.
The remains of the deceased have also been recovered, while efforts are ongoing to identify victims and notify their families.
The report added that the truck driver has been apprehended and is currently in custody, as investigations continue.
