Dozens of Muslim worshippers have been killed in an accident in Kaduna state in northern Nigeria.
The victims were on their way to celebrate Eid-el-Maulud, the birthday of the Prophet Muhammad, in the northern town of Saminaka.
According to an Eid festival organizer, their bus collided with an oncoming truck near the town of Lere.
Fatal road accidents are common in Nigeria. Both drivers and passengers are known to ignore safety precautions, which are not strictly enforced by the authorities.
An official from the Kaduna State Emergency Management Agency put the death toll at 36 on Monday morning.
However, event organiser Ahmad Dayyabu told the BBC that about 40 people have died and another 31 are being treated in hospital.
“They left from Kwandare town on their way here, Saminaka. Upon arrival at Lere town, their vehicle was run over by a truck with a trailer,” he said.
“Our investigation shows that there were 71 people in that ill-fated vehicle.”
It is said that the bus was overloaded.
Official statistics show that more than 1,470 people died in road accidents across Nigeria in the first quarter of 2024.
That’s an average of about 16 people per day.
The government declared Monday a national holiday to commemorate this year’s Eid-el-Maulud festival.
More BBC stories from Nigeria:
Go to BBCAfrica.com for more news from the African continent.
Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfricaon Facebook on BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica
BBC Africa Podcasts
