Speeding Bus Kills Pregnant Woman, Four Others at Yobe Market

Tragedy struck in Yobe State on Sunday evening when a speeding 18-seater Toyota Hiace Bus with registration number KTG 283 XA rammed into the bustling Damagum market, killing a pregnant woman and four others, and leaving 19 people injured.

Confirming the incident on Tuesday, April 8, 2025, the Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Yobe, Livinus Yilzoom, told Channels Television that the crash occurred as the victims were leaving the market and attempting to cross the road.

“The five victims who died were not passengers in the bus, but pedestrians standing by the roadside,” he said. “The driver lost control while speeding and tried to avoid the pedestrians, but ended up hitting them.”

Yilzoom added that officers from the Dogon Kuka Unit Command responded swiftly, deploying a crash investigation team to the scene and evacuating victims to the Damagum General Hospital for treatment.

Preliminary findings from the FRSC investigation identified excessive speed and loss of vehicle control as the primary causes of the fatal crash.

Eyewitnesses also expressed concern over the siting of markets close to highways in several communities, noting that such positioning contributes to the risk of similar accidents, especially on market days.