The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has confirmed the death of 15 Maulud celebrants in a tragic accident along the Kaduna-Saminaka Road in the Lere Local Government Area of the state.

According to the Corps, the accident occurred around 1p.m. on Sunday when a J5 commercial bus with the number plate NSL 08 AA collided with another vehicle, a DAF trailer with registration number DKA 454 XY, near LEA Primary School in Lere.

Daily Trust reported that Ahmad Dayyabu, one of the event organisers, told the BBC Hausa that the “overcrowded bus” collided with an oncoming truck near Lere town, adding that about 40 people had died in the incident.

Dayyabu explained that the vehicle departed from Kwandare, heading towards Saminaka but When it reached Lere, the trailer truck collided with it.

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But the FRSC confirmed that 15 travellers, including the J5 bus driver Mukailu Musa, died on the spot.

The command also stated that 63 people were involved in the accident, and over 43 other victims who sustained various injuries were rushed to Comprehensive Hospital Saminaka.

The FRSC Sector Commander, Kabir Nadabo, said, “Yes, the incident happened on Sunday around 1 p.m. near LEA Primary School Lere, involving about 63 people from the two vehicles. When the rescue team arrived, we confirmed that 15 persons from the bus, including the driver, were dead, while over 43 others who sustained injuries were taken to the hospital for treatment.”

Nadabo further explained that the command would issue an update on Tuesday morning on the incident.

He noted that the rescue team involved the police, Kaduna Law Enforcement Transport Authority (KASTLEA), and FRSC officials who evacuated the victims.