At least, six people have been confirmed dead and nine others injured when a commercial vehicle knocked them down while celebrating Maulud at the Gagarawa village in Ringim Local Government Area of Jigawa State.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Lawan Shiitu Adamu, confirmed the incident in a statement on Monday.

“In a heartbreaking and devastating incident, a fatal motor vehicle and pedestrian accident occurred along the Kano-Gumel Road at the Gagarawa village in Ringim LGA on September 29, 2024, about 2230 hrs,” he stated.

According to him, the accident occurred on Sunday, September 29, 2024, when a 52-year-old driver, Usman Idris, of Doko village, Garki LGA, was driving a Volkswagen Sharon with registration number Kano NSR 452 ZX from the Gashuwa Local Government Area in Yobe State to Kano State.

He said on reaching the said Gagarawa village, the driver lost control while speeding and knocked down about 15 pedestrians, who were celebrating the Maulud.

“Upon receipt of the pitiful report, a team of policemen rushed to the scene and took the victims to the Ringim General Hospital.

“Regretfully, on their arrival, the medical doctor on call confirmed and certified six among the victims dead,” Adam said.

He listed the deceased victims as Suleiman Hambali, 15, of Karshi village; Buhari Isyaku, 15, of Jiyau village; Abba Yusuf, 15; Yusuf Usman, 15; Gaddafi Isah, 13, and Ibrahim Tsalha, 17, all of Gagarawa village, Ringim LGA.

A postmortem examination was conducted and the corpses were released to their relatives for immediate and proper burial.

Meanwhile, the other nine injured victims admitted to the hospital were currently receiving treatment.

The Jigawa State Commissioner of Police, AT Abdullahi, expressed condolences to the deceased’s families and relatives and prayed for their gentle souls to rest in perfect peace.

He directed the motor traffic department to conduct a discreet investigation into the cause of the accident. (Text, excluding headline: The PUNCH)