No fewer than 23 persons lost their lives, while four others sustained critical injuries in two separate road accidents that occurred on Tuesday along the Dutse–Kiyawa Road and at Bandawa village in Ringim Local Government Area of Jigawa State.

The first crash, which occurred at about 12:20 pm at Danmasara Quarters along the Dutse–Kiyawa Road, involved two Golf 3 vehicles and a tipper truck. Eyewitnesses said a white Golf 3 reportedly lost control at high speed, rammed into a streetlight, collided with another Golf 3 approaching from the opposite direction, before a tipper truck crushed both vehicles.

An eyewitness, Abdullahi Idris, described the incident as horrific, noting that several passengers were trapped in the wreckage. Another resident, Muhammad Ibrahim, said the vehicles were speeding before the crash, adding that screams for help filled the air following the impact. A female eyewitness, Fatima Hassan, said most of the victims were from Fake village in Kiyawa Local Government Area.

Confirming the incident, the Public Relations Officer of the Jigawa State Police Command, SP Shi’isu Adam, said 16 persons died instantly, while two others were pronounced dead at the hospital. Two additional victims sustained critical injuries. He disclosed that the vehicles involved bore registration numbers KYW 500 XA, RAN 836 XA and BUU 289 XA, adding that preliminary investigations showed that 10 males and eight females from Fake village were among the deceased.

Barely 40 minutes later, a second accident occurred at Bandawa village in Ringim Local Government Area along the Babura Road. According to the police, the crash involved an ash-coloured Honda Accord whose driver, identified as Yunusa Hassan, reportedly lost control while attempting to avoid a goat and rammed into a tree.

SP Adam said five women and one man died in the crash, while two other occupants sustained fractures and were rushed to the hospital, where five of the victims were later confirmed dead.

He said investigations had commenced into both incidents, while the Commissioner of Police condoled with the families of the deceased and prayed for the repose of their souls and the speedy recovery of the injured. The police also cautioned motorists against speeding and reckless driving, particularly along major highways such as the Dutse–Kiyawa Road.