Tragedy on Adamawa Highway: Four NYSC Members, Soldier Burnt Alive in Horrific Road Crash

Tragedy on Adamawa Highway: Four NYSC Members, Soldier Burnt Alive in Horrific Road Crash

A devastating road accident along the Yola–Mubi highway in Adamawa State has claimed the lives of four members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and a soldier in a tragic incident that has left families, colleagues, and residents in mourning.

The fatal crash occurred on Wednesday afternoon at about 1:50 p.m. in the Narehi area, located within the Girei/Song axis of Adamawa State. The accident involved a military gun truck and a commercial Hummer bus carrying passengers from Yola to Mubi.

According to the Adamawa State Police Command, the collision was severe and resulted in a catastrophic fire that engulfed the commercial vehicle, leaving all its occupants trapped inside.

Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer of the command, SP Suleiman Nguroje, disclosed that preliminary investigations revealed that the military truck was travelling from Gombi towards Yola when it collided head-on with the passenger bus.

“The unfortunate incident involved a military gun truck travelling from Gombi towards Yola and a commercial Hummer bus conveying five passengers from Yola to Mubi. Preliminary findings reveal that both vehicles were involved in a head-on collision, resulting in the commercial bus flipping over and bursting into flames,” he stated.

The impact of the collision was so intense that the bus immediately caught fire, leaving little chance of survival for those on board. All five occupants of the commercial vehicle were reportedly burnt beyond recognition.

Police authorities said preliminary identification confirmed that four of the victims were serving corps members deployed to Adamawa State under the National Youth Service Corps scheme.

Among those identified are Suleiman Juliet and Usman Shuaibu, both indigenes of Kaduna State. Authorities disclosed that efforts are ongoing to identify the remaining victims and notify their families.

In a further tragic twist, a soldier attached to the military vehicle also lost his life as a result of injuries sustained in the crash, bringing the total death toll to five.

Emergency responders, alongside police personnel, swiftly arrived at the scene to contain the situation and evacuate the victims. The remains of the deceased were later transported to a specialist hospital in Yola for preservation and further identification procedures.

The heartbreaking incident has sparked renewed concerns over road safety on major highways across Nigeria, particularly routes frequently used by commercial transport operators and security agencies.

Reacting to the tragedy, the Commissioner of Police in Adamawa State, CP Kabir Hassan, expressed deep sorrow over the loss of lives and extended condolences to the bereaved families, the Nigerian Armed Forces, and the management of the National Youth Service Corps.

He described the incident as painful and unfortunate, assuring the public that investigations would continue to determine the exact circumstances that led to the fatal collision.

The deaths of the young corps members have particularly generated grief among fellow NYSC members and residents of the state, many of whom took to social media to mourn the victims and call for improved road safety measures.

As families await the identification of all the victims, the tragic accident stands as another painful reminder of the dangers on Nigeria's highways and the urgent need for stricter traffic regulations, improved road infrastructure, and greater caution among motorists.

For the families of the deceased, what began as an ordinary journey ended in an unimaginable tragedy, leaving behind shattered dreams, unanswered questions, and a nation mourning the loss of promising young lives.