By Peter Onyekachukwu 
By Peter Onyekachukeu
A routine market day turned tragic in Yobe State after a speeding Toyota bus lost control and rammed into a crowd of pedestrians at the bustling Damagum weekly market, killing at least five people and injuring 19 others.
The incident occurred around 1 p.m. on the Kano-Maiduguri expressway near Damagum in Fune Local Government Area, during the peak of trading activities. The victims, mostly traders and market-goers, were said to be by the roadside when the bus veered off the road and ploughed into them.
Eyewitnesses said the driver, en route from Damaturu to Potiskum, lost control of the vehicle while trying to avoid pedestrians crossing the highway. One trader, who witnessed the incident, told Daily Trust that the scene was devastating.
“It was a busy market day. People came from different towns. The driver appeared to be on high speed when he suddenly swerved, lost control, and drove straight into the crowd. I saw a pregnant woman among the dead. It was horrifying,” the trader recounted.
Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Sector Commander in Yobe State, CC Livinus Longzen Yilzoom, confirmed the casualty figure. According to him, the tragedy was the result of a combination of high speed, brake failure, and the presence of roadside traders.
“We have always warned against selling by the roadside during market days. Our preliminary findings revealed that the driver was speeding when he noticed people trying to cross the expressway. In an attempt to avoid hitting them, he tapped the brake, but it failed, causing him to lose control,” he explained.
Yilzoom confirmed that five people died on the spot while 19 others sustained various degrees of injuries and are receiving treatment at the hospital.
He conveyed the condolences of the Corps Marshal and the entire FRSC to the families of the victims and the people of Damagum, calling for stricter compliance with roadside safety regulations to prevent future occurrences.
The accident underscores the growing concern over poor traffic management in market areas and the urgent need for designated trading zones away from highways to safeguard lives.