Eighteen people have been confirmed dead and 21 injured when a truck conveying several people and goods plunged into a river in Bida Local Government Area of Niger State.
The accident was said to have occurred late Tuesday night.
Eyewitnesses said the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Bida responded when the crash occurred but were unable to save those who died.
The state FRSC Sector Commander, Aishat Saadu, said the vehicle was travelling from Lagos to Kano, adding that it was a ditch and not a river as alleged by eyewitnesses.
‘The incident occurred at Wuya Village and it is not a river but a ditch. The ditch is big enough, enough for the vehicle to submerge,’ she stated.
She said only two people were not injured and the deceased had been taken to the mortuary while the injured were taken to the hospital for treatment.