Malik Yahya/
Four people have been confirmed dead and several others injured after a convoy of heavy-duty trucks ploughed into a Christmas procession at the annual Eggon Cultural Carnival in Nasarawa-Eggon Local Government Area of Nasarawa State on Sunday.
The tragedy unfolded along the route from the palace of the Aren Eggon, the paramount ruler of the Eggon people, to Eggon Community Secondary School, the carnival’s main venue.
According to the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), the crash occurred when a truck lost control and struck participants, while two other trucks subsequently collided with the initial vehicle, compounding the impact.
Yahaya Sabo-Adikwu, the Nasarawa State Sector Commander of the FRSC, confirmed four fatalities at the scene and said multiple others sustained injuries of varying severity.
The injured have been taken to Nasarawa-Eggon General Hospital for treatment, while the bodies of the deceased were deposited at the Federal University of Lafia Teaching Hospital, Lafia.
Sabo-Adikwu attributed the crash to reckless driving.
He called for a thorough investigation and stressed the need for mandatory drug testing for drivers of articulated vehicles to improve safety on Nigerian roads.
Eyewitnesses described chaotic scenes as the trucks veered into the crowd near the Eggon Community Secondary School.
Some of the injured reportedly include members of the carnival’s organising committee and visitors from outside the local area.
In the immediate aftermath, the leadership of Ame Wo Ba Eggon (AWBE), the socio-cultural group responsible for the carnival, announced the cancellation of remaining festivities out of respect for the victims and to allow emergency services to respond.
Local government officials and community leaders expressed condolences to the families of those killed and urged authorities to examine road safety measures in the area to prevent similar tragedies.
The Eggon Cultural Carnival, held annually in Nasarawa-Eggon, is a major event celebrating the heritage and unity of the Eggon people.
This year’s procession, held during the Christmas season, was expected to draw large crowds before it was cut short by the accident.
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