Tragedy in Niger: Four University Students, Driver Die in Governor’s Convoy Crash

No fewer than five people lost their lives on Monday when a vehicle in the convoy of Niger State Governor, Mohammed Bago, collided head-on with another vehicle, resulting in multiple fatalities.

The accident, which occurred at Gidan Mangoro in Minna, involved a Toyota Hilux conveying the Director-General of the Government House, Mr Dauda Chikuba, and another vehicle carrying five students of the Federal University of Technology.

Reports indicated that four of the five students died at the scene, while the driver of the Government House vehicle conveying the Director-General also died on the spot.

It was gathered that the governor’s convoy was returning to Minna, while the vehicle conveying the students was heading towards Bida.

The governor’s entourage was reportedly returning to Minna after Bago and his team paid a condolence visit to the Etsu Nupe and Chairman of the Niger State Council of Traditional Rulers, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar, following the death of the Sagi Nupe, Hajia Aisha.

The accident, described as a head-on collision, occurred at Gidan Kwanu.
The Government House Director-General was immediately rushed to a hospital for treatment, while the remains of the students and the driver were evacuated to an undisclosed location.

An eyewitness said the collision was a head-on crash and alleged that the convoy was travelling at high speed when the accident occurred.

“It was a head-on collision. We learnt that the convoy was at high speed when the accident occurred. It was a terrible accident.

“The Government House DG was immediately rushed to a hospital and may remain there for some time, while the corpses of the students were taken to an unknown destination,” the eyewitness said.

The State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Wasiu Abiodun, confirmed the incident and said an investigation had commenced.

However, he did not disclose the identities of the deceased.
“The accident occurred this morning, and we are investigating it,” the police spokesperson said.

Editorial note: The original report mentions both Gidan Mangoro and Gidan Kwanu as the location of the accident. Both references have been retained to preserve the original information.

The allegation that the convoy was travelling at high speed remains attributed to an eyewitness and has not been presented as an established fact.