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A devastating accident on the Kaduna-Zaria highway on Monday evening, June 9, 2025, has left a family and an entire community in deep sorrow. Eight members of one family, including women, children, and an eight-month-pregnant woman expecting twins, lost their lives when a speeding Mercedes GLK Jeep lost control and crashed into pedestrians waiting by the roadside in the Barakallahu area. Two others are fighting for their lives in hospital.
The tragedy struck around 6 p.m. during Eid-el-Kabir celebrations, as the family, having visited their grandmother’s house, stood by the road waiting for a ride home. Malam Jamilu Usman Mai Yadi, a grieving father and husband from Sabon Gari, Tudun Wada, told Daily Trust, “We lost eight members of our family that evening. My wife, Khadija Umar, her aunt, her younger and older sisters, and my two children, Sadiq, 16, and Muhammad, 9, all died.” He added that two other family members remain in critical condition.
Among the victims was Zainab Muhammad, eight months pregnant with twins named Hassan and Hussaini. Her husband, Sulaiman Abdulkadir Mai Shinkafa, a cleric from Hayin Rigasa, shared the horrific aftermath: “Her body was crushed. My 6-year-old son Khalid’s bones were shattered. We had to gather their remains with planks for burial. No family should ever witness this.” He expressed frustration at the lack of condolences from the driver’s family or the Kaduna State government, noting that the driver, reportedly a young boy from Rigachikun whose father is a prominent politician, fled the scene.
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) confirmed the crash, blaming it on speeding and loss of control on a rain-soaked road. Sector Commander Tijjani Iliyasu said, “Six people died on the spot. We rushed the injured to hospital, but the driver and others in the vehicle had fled under cover of darkness.” The vehicle has been handed over to the police for investigation, but the Kaduna State Police Command has remained silent, with attempts to reach DSP Mansir Hassan unsuccessful. No official statement has come from the state government either.
Community leader Imam Rabiu, a Barakallahu resident, prayed for the victims, saying, “The whole town was quiet that night. It was a terrible tragedy for eight family members to die at once. May Allah forgive them.” Another resident, Adam, called the incident “dreadful and painful.” The grieving families, including Mai Yadi, are calling for justice and empathy from authorities, feeling neglected in their pain.
As the community mourns, questions remain about accountability and road safety on this busy highway. Will justice be served for this heartbroken family?
