19 Killed In Sokoto-Illela Road Accident

The Chairman of Illela Local Government, Alhaji Garba Sabon-Gari, says the death toll in the accident at Gidan-Sandaga village, along Sokoto-Illela village, has now risen to 19.


Sabon-Gari disclosed this in Sokoto on Sunday in a telephone interview.

13 people were earlier reported to have died in the Sunday mid-day accident which involved two articulated vehicles from Fura-Girke and Inwala villages.

The two vehicles, with registration numbers LLA 22 XA and ABJ 801 XE, were going to Illela market when the accident occurred.

"Six more persons died some hours ago at
the Illela General Hospital," Sabon-Gari
said.

12 of those who lost their lives earlier died
on the spot while one victim later died at
the hospital.

Thirty-two others who were injured in the
accident were rushed to the same hospital
for treatment.

Sabon-Gari said the state government and
the Illela local government had mobilised
additional medical personnel who were
assisting the hospital staff.

He said the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Sahabi Gada, had
moblised more medical doctors from Sokoto and Gada local governments in
the same direction.

"He (Gada) is here himself, overseeing the
emergency operations to save the lives of
the remaining injured victims," Sabon-
Gari added.

Dr Kenneth Emordi, the Medical Director
of the Illela General Hospital, had earlier
said that the hospital staff were working
round the clock to save the situation.

"We are trying to save the lives of the injured persons, although most of them are in a critical condition," he said. [NAN]