The accident scene
No fewer than 20 people have been killed in a multiple road crash along the Hawan Kibo–Jos road in Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State.
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), which confirmed the incident, said five other people sustained injuries in the crash involving four vehicles.
The accident occurred on Friday, October 2, 2026, shortly after Sopp Water Falls along the Hawan Kibo axis of the highway.
According to the FRSC, 25 people were involved in the crash, comprising 23 males and two females.
It said 20 male victims died, while three males and two females sustained injuries.
The vehicles involved were a Howo Sino truck with registration number AGL 525 YN, a Toyota Corolla with registration number AB 129 M, a Toyota Bummer bus operated by Yankari Express and a motorcycle whose registration details were not available.
In a statement by the Corps Public Education Officer, Osondu Ohaeri, the FRSC said preliminary findings indicated that brake failure and subsequent loss of control were the likely causes of the crash.
The statement said the injured victims were evacuated to Riyom General Hospital and Vom Christian Hospital, while the bodies of the deceased were deposited at the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH) Mortuary.
The corps also said its rescue personnel cleared the obstruction caused by the crash and restored traffic along the affected section of the highway.
Confirming the accident separately, the Plateau State Sector Commander of the FRSC, Corps Commander Adelaja Ogungbemi, said the crash was caused by brake failure.
“It was a brake failure. We will continue to advise that motorists should always check their vehicles before driving. And they should drive carefully especially when negotiating a bend,” Ogungbemi said.
An eyewitness, Moses Gyang, said the vehicle lost control while descending the hill.
“I was close by when it happened around 5pm. The vehicle lost control while descending the hill. It was a terrible sight, people were shouting for help,” Gyang said.
Another eyewitness, Max Nenyang, said rescue efforts were initially affected by the crowd that gathered at the scene.
“We have not seen such an accident here in recent times. Many people were lying on the ground, and while FRSC officers arrived quickly to transport the injured to the hospital, many had already died,” he said.
The FRSC Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, expressed sadness over the loss of lives and commiserated with the families, friends and associates of the deceased.
Mohammed directed the corps’ crash investigation team to conduct a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the accident, particularly the reported brake failure and loss of control.
He urged motorists, especially commercial and heavy-duty vehicle operators, to prioritise vehicle roadworthiness, regular maintenance, speed management and responsible driving.
The Hawan Kibo axis has previously been identified as a crash-prone section of the Jos-Abuja highway, with heavy-duty vehicles frequently involved in accidents along the hilly stretch.
