Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The tragedy of Nigeria's roads has struck again with devastating precision, claiming the lives of the wife and three children of a former Commissioner of Education in Niger State. The fatal crash, which occurred on the Bida-Kutigi Road on Sunday, August 23, 2026, has left the community of Mashegu Local Government Area in mourning and has highlighted the ongoing dangers of the nation's highways.
The victims, Hajia Daja and three of her four children, were travelling in a Mazda car from Minna to Mokwa when the vehicle collided head-on with a Toyota Sienna. The impact was so severe that the mother and three children died on the spot. The only survivor in the Mazda was her teenage daughter, who sustained life-threatening injuries, including a broken rib and a fractured shoulder. Eyewitnesses at the scene expressed grave concerns about her survival, noting that she was unconscious and in critical condition.
The crash, which occurred around 11:30 a.m. near Shebe Village on the Kutigi-Bida Road, is a stark reminder of the fragility of life on Nigeria's roads. The Federal Road Safety Corps confirmed that a total of 18 passengers were involved in the accident. According to the FRSC Niger State Sector Commander, Aishat Sa’adu, seven people died at the scene, seven others sustained injuries, and four passengers escaped unharmed. However, a later count by PUNCH Metro confirmed that nine people lost their lives, with the Sienna bus also accounting for two fatalities.
The Daja family had already known immense loss. Abubakar Daja, who served as Commissioner for Education in Niger State during the country's return to democracy in 1999 and held the position for two terms until 2007, passed away in 2025. The crash has now erased a significant part of his legacy, leaving only a critically injured daughter to carry the family name forward.
This incident is not an isolated event but part of a grim pattern on the Bida-Kutigi-Mokwa corridor. Just days earlier, on August 21, a similar crash on the same route involving a Mazda and a Sienna claimed seven lives. The frequency of such deadly accidents on this road raises urgent questions about the safety of the highway and the efficacy of measures to prevent head-on collisions.
For the families of the victims, the pain is immeasurable. The loss of a mother and three children in a single moment is a tragedy that words cannot adequately capture. As the teenage survivor fights for her life in a hospital bed, the community waits with bated breath, hoping that she will pull through. Her survival is now the only thread connecting the Daja family to the future.
📩 Stone Reporters News | 🌍 stonereportersnews.com
✉️ info@stonereportersnews.com | 📘 Facebook: Stone Reporters News | 🐦 X (Twitter): @StoneReportNew | 📸 Instagram: @stonereportersnews
Add comment
Comments