Abuja, Nigeria
A tragic accident has once again rocked the Karu Bridge area along the Abuja-Keffi Expressway, leaving many feared dead and several others injured. The accident, which occurred earlier today, involved a heavily-loaded cement truck that reportedly suffered a brake failure while descending from Kugbo Hill.
Eyewitnesses say the out-of-control truck rammed into several vehicles trapped in traffic along the busy bridge, resulting in a chaotic pileup. Multiple vehicles were severely damaged, and some were engulfed in flames following the impact.
Rescue operations were swiftly launched by emergency response teams including the Federal Fire Service, the Nigeria Police, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), and other first responders. Casualty figures have not yet been officially confirmed, but initial reports suggest several lives were lost at the scene, and dozens have been rushed to nearby hospitals for emergency treatment.
This latest tragedy comes barely a month after a similar fatal incident involving a Dangote trailer, also on Karu Bridge, where at least ten lives were lost and several vehicles destroyed following a brake failure and explosion.
Authorities have since urged heavy-duty vehicle operators to prioritize safety checks and adhere strictly to roadworthiness regulations, as brake failure and mechanical faults have become recurring causes of deadly accidents on this route.
Residents and commuters are calling on the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and the FCT administration to enforce stricter inspections on trucks using the Abuja-Keffi corridor, especially around high-risk zones like Karu Bridge.
As the city mourns yet another loss, emergency services continue to work at the scene, clearing the wreckage and providing support to the victims’ families.
