At least one person was killed and several other other persons were injured as a truck loaded with sharp sand missed his way and rammed into a busy Mile 6 Market in Jalingo, Taraba State capital, on Friday.
Eyewitnesses said the incident occurred after one of the truck’s tyres reportedly burst while it was moving at high speed, causing the driver to lose control of the vehicle. The vehicle consequently veered off the road and crashed into the crowded marketplace.
“It happened so fast. The truck was speeding, and after the tyre burst, the driver couldn’t steer. It just rammed into people,” a local vendor told our correspondent.
Emergency responders, including police officers and medical personnel, swiftly arrived at the scene to rescue victims and transport the injured to nearby hospitals.
Authorities, at the time of filing this report, were yet to confirm the exact number of casualties as efforts continued to identify the victims and notify their families.
The driver of the truck, as gathered by LEADERSHIP, has been arrested and taken into police custody for further investigation.
Local officials have appealed for calm in the community and assured residents of support for those affected by the tragedy.
The accident has left the city of Jalingo in shock, prompting renewed calls for stricter road safety measures and enforcement to prevent similar disasters.
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