A devastating road accident on the Maiduguri-Damaturu highway claimed the lives of nine passengers, including three children, on Friday, July 18, 2025, at approximately 3:30 PM.
The Borno Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Usman Muhammad, confirmed the incident in a statement issued in Maiduguri, attributing the crash to speeding that led to a loss of control.
The collision involved a Toyota Hummer bus operated by Borno Express and a commercial trailer. According to Muhammad, eight passengers—five adult males, one adult female, two male children, and one female child—died instantly at the scene, while a ninth succumbed to injuries at the Specialist Hospital in Maiduguri.
Seven others sustained injuries and are receiving treatment at the same hospital.
“Our thoughts and condolences go out to the families and loved ones of the deceased,” Muhammad stated, urging motorists to exercise caution and adhere to road safety regulations to prevent such tragedies.
Authorities are currently investigating the precise cause of the crash, which has added to the region’s history of deadly accidents on this route.
The FRSC emphasized the need for stricter compliance with speed limits to avoid future incidents.
This accident follows other recent tragedies in Borno, including a June 2025 bomb blast in Mairari village that killed nine passengers, highlighting ongoing safety concerns on the state’s highways.
