Five children from the same family have died in a devastating road accident involving a commercial tricycle and a water tanker in Gombe State, prompting an investigation by the police and renewed calls for stronger road safety measures, particularly for vehicles transporting schoolchildren.
The accident occurred at approximately 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, near Kanadi Academy Junction, along Goodluck Ebele Jonathan Street in Gombe metropolis. The children were travelling to their respective schools when the tricycle collided with the tanker. Police and road safety authorities have confirmed the incident, although accounts differ concerning the precise circumstances of the collision and the number of injured passengers.
The deceased were identified as Maryam Mansir Adamu and Usman Mansir Adamu, both Primary Five pupils at Jekadafari Primary School; Hauwau Mansir Adamu, a student of Government Junior Secondary School, Jekadafari; Aliyu Mansir Adamu, who attended Government Day Secondary School, Ahmadu Gombe; and Fatima Mansir Adamu, whose school was not specified.
The victims were members of the Mansir Adamu family. Their deaths have brought profound grief to their relatives, schools and the wider community, where the tragedy has raised questions about the safety of children travelling to educational institutions in commercial vehicles.
According to information attributed to the Gombe State Police Command, the water tanker, bearing registration number BLG 699 XA, was driven by Sani Abdullahi, 43, of Herwagana Quarters. The tricycle, registered FKY 163 VG, was operated by Musa Muhammad, 26, of Nasarawo Quarters.
The police account identified seven young passengers, including two survivors, Umar Mansir Adamu, 15, and Abubakar Mansir Adamu, 10. Both were reportedly admitted for medical treatment following the collision. Other reports, including statements issued after the accident, indicated that three children sustained injuries, leaving a discrepancy in the reported casualty figures.
The victims were taken to medical facilities in Gombe, including the Federal Teaching Hospital, while the bodies of those who died were deposited at the Specialist Hospital mortuary. The police said officers visited the accident scene and prepared a preliminary sketch as part of their investigation.
Initial accounts suggested that the tanker struck the tricycle. However, Gombe State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Buhari Abdullahi, subsequently said preliminary information indicated that the tricycle had moved underneath the larger vehicle from behind.
The Federal Road Safety Corps Sector Commander in Gombe, Samson Kaura, also cited eyewitness accounts suggesting that the tricycle struck the tanker from the rear. These preliminary descriptions have not established the final cause of the accident, and police have said further investigation is necessary.
Kaura explained that FRSC personnel did not conduct the initial rescue because information about the collision reached the command after other responders had intervened. Road safety officers nevertheless visited the location and medical facilities to assess the circumstances and casualties.
The conflicting accounts highlight the importance of a thorough investigation before responsibility is assigned. Investigators must determine the movement of both vehicles, the conditions at the junction and whether any traffic violations contributed to the collision.
Gombe State Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya expressed profound sorrow over the deaths, describing the tragedy as a painful loss not only for the bereaved family but also for the entire state.
In a statement issued through his Director-General of Press Affairs, Ismaila Uba Misilli, the governor said the children had died while pursuing their education and preparing for their futures. He extended condolences to their parents, relatives, teachers, classmates and the Jekadafari community.
“The loss of five children from one family in a single tragic incident is profoundly painful, not only for their parents and relatives but also for their schools, the Jekadafari community, and the entire people of Gombe State,” Yahaya said.
The governor urged motorists and commercial transport operators to observe traffic regulations, maintain appropriate speeds and avoid dangerous manoeuvres. He also emphasised the need to ensure that vehicles are roadworthy before they are used on public roads.
“No commuting is worth the loss of precious human lives,” Yahaya said, calling for greater attention to the protection of schoolchildren and other vulnerable passengers.
The governor offered prayers for the deceased and wished those receiving medical treatment a speedy recovery. His administration has not announced the findings of any completed investigation into the accident.
Meanwhile, the Federal Road Safety Corps has said it is intensifying traffic enforcement and public education across Gombe State. Kaura disclosed that the agency is engaging religious institutions, transport unions, motor parks and schools to promote safer driving practices.
He also said the corps had established road safety clubs in primary and junior secondary schools and strengthened mobile court operations to address traffic violations. The initiatives are intended to improve awareness among drivers, passengers and young road users.
The tragedy has brought particular attention to the risks associated with transporting several children in a single tricycle. Although the police have identified the vehicle and its passengers, investigators have not publicly determined whether overcrowding, mechanical defects or other safety issues contributed to the crash.
The police investigation remains ongoing, with authorities seeking to establish the circumstances that led to the deaths. No final finding of criminal responsibility has been announced.
For the Mansir Adamu family, the accident represents an immeasurable personal loss. For Gombe State, it has become a reminder of the consequences of road collisions and the importance of protecting children during their daily journeys to school.
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