* Mutfwang Condoles Adamawa govt, Air force over death of 5 officers
No fewer than 19 persons died Monday morning in a ghastly motor accident at Hawan Kibo area of Riyom Local Government Council in Plateau State.
All the passengers perished.
The incident happened just as players of Kano Pillars U-19 Team escaped death by the whiskers when the bus carrying them plunged into the perimeter fencing of St. Louis Catholic Church. The team was said to be heading to the New Jos Stadium for their Match Day 5 fixture against Plateau United U-19 in the inaugural under 19 Youth League when the incident happened.
No life was, however, lost in the accident as the bus was still at the scene as at the time of writing this story.
In the case of the Hawan Kibo crash, it was gathered that the accident involving passengers from Adamawa State to Abuja was said to have occured approximately 60 kilometers from Jos, the Plateau State capital.
Eighteen passengers were said to have died on the spot, while the 19th person died in the hospital. Among the victims were said to be five Air Force officers
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Plateau State Command’s spokesman, Peter Yakubu, confirmed the incident to newsmen in Jos stating that all the passengers in the vehicle perished.
He said: ‘’No one survived the accident. The sole person taken to the hospital later succumbed. Eighteen died at the scene, while one died in the hospital.’’
A staff member at Riyom Trauma Hospital told our correspondent that the victims’ corpses were brought to the hospital yesterday morning.
She said: ‘’All victims brought to us had already died. Some bodies were unidentifiable due to severe mutilation. As I speak, all corpses have been transferred to a Jos mortuary due to electricity challenges in Riyom Local Government Council.”
The staff member added that the vehicle involved was traveling from Adamawa State to Abuja when the accident occurred.
Hawan Kibo is a dangerous hill along Jos – Abuja road in Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau, which is prone to recurring motor accidents due to the poor condition of the road.
Mutfwang offers condolences
Meanwhile, the Plateau State Governor, Barr. Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang, has extended his condolences to the Nigerian Air Force, the Government and the people of Adamawa State over the tragic accident that claimed lives at Hawan Kibo in Riyom Local Government Area, Plateau State.
In a heartfelt message signed by the Director of Press and Public Affairs to the Executive Governor, Gyang Bere, Mutfwang described the accident—resulting from a brake failure—as a devastating loss, particularly due to the unfortunate death of all passengers onboard the vehicle, including five Nigerian Air Force personnel.
Describing the incident as a profound tragedy, Mutfuwang expressed his sincere sympathy to the bereaved families, the Governor of Adamawa State, the Chief of Air Staff, and all those affected by the painful event, praying that such a heart-wrenching occurrence would not take place again in Plateau or anywhere else in the country for that matter.
Mutfwang also commended the prompt and courageous response of the Special Task Force (STF), Federal Road Safety Corps, and local volunteers who made concerted efforts to rescue the passengers, despite the tragic outcome.
The accident, which took place on Monday, involved an 18-seater bus that, due to brake failure, collided with a stationary trailer undergoing roadside repairs.
