Four students of the Federal University of Technology, Minna, and a Government House driver died on Monday after a vehicle in Niger State Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago’s convoy collided head-on with their car on the Minna–Bida road.
What happened
The crash happened in the Gidan Mangoro area of Minna, near Gidan Kwanu. A Toyota Hilux carrying Dauda Chikuba, the Director-General of Government House, was part of the convoy. It hit a car carrying five students who were travelling towards Bida.
Four of the students died at the scene, along with the driver of the Government House vehicle. One student survived. Chikuba was injured and taken to hospital in Minna.
Daily Trust named two of the dead as Nafisat Abubakar Aguye and Ibrahim Ado Bayero, both postgraduate students at FUT Minna. The other two had not been named at the time of writing.
Where the convoy was coming from
Eyewitnesses said the convoy was returning to Minna from a condolence visit to the Etsu Nupe, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar, in Bida. The visit followed the death of the Sagi Nupe, Hajia Aisha.
It is not clear whether the governor was in the convoy when the crash happened.
Cause and response
No official cause has been given. An eyewitness told Pulse the convoy was travelling at high speed.
Niger State Police spokesperson Wasiu Abiodun confirmed the crash and said, “we are investigating it.” The FRSC Niger Sector Commander, Aishat Sa’adu, also confirmed the incident. At the time of reporting, there was no statement from the governor or from FUT Minna.
