ZARIA, Kaduna State – A devastating crash occurred on Monday, July 31, 2023, when a truck belonging to the Dangote Group lost control and plowed into a home, killing three children and injuring their parents as they slept.
The incident occurred around 3 a.m. at No 162, Anguwar Juma, Zaria City.
A witness explained to City & Crime that the truck driver lost control and rammed into the house of Mallam Abdu Zailani.
The deceased children were identified as Hadiza Haruna (14), Usman Haruna (9), and Saliha Haruna, while the injured mother was named as Rauhanatu Yusuf.
Sister of the injured man, Fatima Abdulkadir, recounted the horrifying moment, saying, “The incident occurred when we were all sleeping and suddenly heard a loud noise. We rushed to see what was happening and discovered that a truck had smashed into my brother’s room.”
The shocked family immediately sought help, recovering the lifeless bodies of the children and rushing the injured parents and another small boy to the hospital.
The truck driver, Mallam Abdullahi, was reportedly unaware that his 20-year-old conductor had taken the truck’s key and drove it with his friends when the accident happened.
He has since been arrested and is now in custody for interrogation, confirmed by the DPO of Zaria City, Kasim Abdul, who was at the scene.
A senior council member of the Zazzau Emirate and a neighbor to the victims, the Sarkin Fadan Zazzau, Alhaji Abas Ahmed Fatika, expressed his grief and pledged to ensure the culprit was brought to justice.
The tragedy has shaken the community and raised questions about the responsibility of the Dangote Group in ensuring the safety and proper management of their vehicles.
This incident also highlights the urgent need for increased road safety measures, oversight of commercial vehicles, and education for drivers to prevent such heart-wrenching events in the future.
The Dangote Group, a prominent Nigerian multinational industrial conglomerate, has not yet stated the accident.
The tragedy may lead to calls for an internal investigation within the company and potential legal action from the victims’ families.
As the community mourns the loss of three young lives and prays for recovering the injured parents, there is a palpable call for justice and accountability.
Many hope that this incident will prompt necessary changes in regulations and practices to prevent similar tragedies from occurring in the future.
