Five siblings killed in Gombe water tanker and school tricycle collision

Five children from a single family lost their lives on Tuesday morning in Gombe State after a water tanker collided with a commercial tricycle that was transporting them to school. The fatal accident took place near Kanady Academy, located along APC Square in the Government Reserved Area of the state capital. The deceased were named as Maryam Mansir Adamu and Usman Mansir Adamu, both fifth-grade students at Jekadafari Primary School; Hauwau Mansir Adamu, who attended the Government Junior Secondary School in Jekadafari; Aliyu Mansir Adamu, a student at the Government Day Secondary School in Ahmadu Gombe; and Fatima Mansir Adamu, whose educational institution was not specified. In addition to the five fatalities, three other children were injured in the crash and were subsequently taken to a hospital for medical treatment.

Background

The father of the deceased children, Mansur Muhammad, provided an account of the events leading up to the tragedy. He stated that he was unwell with a fever that morning, which prevented him from driving his children to school himself. As a result, his younger wife, who was the mother of three of the victims, hired a tricycle driver to transport the children. According to Mansur, the children left the house in good spirits, repeatedly telling him they were going to school, to which he responded by wishing them success. He received a telephone call approximately 40 minutes after they departed, informing him of the accident. The caller, who had been given the father’s number by one of the children, directed him to the emergency unit of the Federal Teaching Hospital in Gombe. Upon arrival, Mansur found two of his children alive but could not locate the others. He was later informed that the bodies of the five deceased had been taken to the Specialist Hospital in Gombe. At the mortuary, he was the only family member permitted to view the bodies, as his wives were deemed too traumatised to be present. A surviving sibling, Umar Mansur, an SS1 student, confirmed that the tricycle fell over before the water tanker ran over the passengers, resulting in a leg injury for himself and the deaths of his five siblings.

Samson Kaura, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Sector Commander for Gombe State, verified the occurrence of the accident. He observed that FRSC officers reached the location only after the preliminary rescue efforts were finished. Officials from the Corps later went to the hospital to confirm the casualty count. According to a source at the Specialist Hospital, the injured children and the drivers involved in the crash were moved to the Federal Teaching Hospital for additional medical care.

Why it matters

The incident has drawn significant attention to road safety issues in the region, particularly regarding the transport of schoolchildren. Gombe State Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya called the tragedy heartbreaking, explaining that the death of five siblings from a single family was a catastrophic shock to their parents, extended family, schools, and the whole state. Through a statement released by his Director-General of Press Affairs, Ismaila Uba Misilli, the governor conveyed condolences to the grieving family and the Jekadafari community, characterizing the fatalities as an unfixable loss. He wished for the rapid healing of the three injured children and appealed to drivers to act with care and accountability. The governor cautioned against careless driving and advised motorists to follow traffic laws, keep to safe speeds, refrain from hazardous maneuvers, and ensure their vehicles are in proper condition. He particularly highlighted the importance of being extra careful when carrying susceptible passengers like schoolchildren.

What happens next

The bodies of the five deceased children have been deposited at the mortuary. The three injured children are currently receiving medical treatment at the Federal Teaching Hospital in Gombe. The FRSC has confirmed the incident and conducted follow-up visits to the hospital to ascertain the final casualty figures. No further legal proceedings or specific dates for inquests were detailed in the available reports.