Nineteen people have died and several others were injured in separate road accidents in Edo and Taraba states.

In Taraba, seven persons, including two minors and two women, lost their lives in a crash that occurred at about 4:40 pm on Tuesday in the Garbabi area of Gashaka Local Government Area.

The accident involved a commercial vehicle carrying 11 passengers from Bali to Serti, the headquarters of Gashaka LGA.

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Haruna Lukman, an official of the Nigeria Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO), Bali branch, said the vehicle collided head-on with an oncoming trailer while negotiating a sharp bend near Kabarin Baturi village along the Bali-Serti road.

He said all the victims died on the spot, adding that officials of NARTO, the police, and good Samaritans evacuated the dead and injured to Bali General Hospital.

Lukman noted that the vehicle, designed to carry six passengers, was often overloaded with up to nine due to rising fuel costs and alleged extortion by security agents.

The Taraba State Police Command spokesperson, ASP Victor Mshelizah, said he would respond to inquiries but had not done so as of press time.

In Edo State, 12 persons died and 14 others were injured in a separate crash over the weekend at Egono community along the Auchi-Ewu-Benin road.

The accident occurred when a speeding truck conveying passengers and goods attempted a dangerous overtaking manoeuvre, lost control, and overturned, trapping occupants.

The Edo FRSC spokesperson, Patricia Onwochei, confirmed the incident, attributing it to wrongful overtaking. She said one victim had been buried, while 11 others were deposited at St. Lazarus Hospital mortuary.