At least 17 people have died in a tragic road accident in Zamfara State after a bus carrying wedding guests plunged into a river.
The incident occurred while the commercial bus, transporting a bride and her entourage, attempted to cross a broken bridge between Gwalli village and Gummi town.
The passengers were en route from Fass village in Gummi Local Government Area to Kebbi State to formally hand over the bride to her husband following the wedding Fatiha.
Eyewitnesses said the driver, unfamiliar with the route, tried to cross the damaged bridge, which had been temporarily reinforced with sandbags and stones by locals. Unfortunately, the vehicle lost balance and overturned into the river.
Seventeen bodies have been recovered so far, while search efforts continue for two others still missing.
However, the bride and a few passengers who had alighted from the bus before the accident occurred were fortunate to survive.
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Zamfara State confirmed the tragic incident, stating that 17 people mostly women lost their lives in the crash.
In an official statement, FRSC Public Education Officer, SRC Isah Aliyu, revealed that the accident happened along Gwalli Road after a previously collapsed bridge gave way.
He explained that local residents had attempted to construct a temporary crossing using sandbags to assist motorists, but the structure failed under the weight of the bus, resulting in the fatal plunge.
FRSC Zamfara Sector Commander, Aliyu Ma’aji, urged motorists to avoid traveling at night, refrain from overloading, and always seek updated road information before embarking on any journey.
