University of Maiduguri Students survives car crash on their way back to school

About 18 students of the University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID) returning to campus from Gombe State after the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) strike yesterday survived what could have been a fatal accident when one of the buses conveying them somersaulted along the Maiduguri– Biu road,  student union officials said.

The students, about 150 of them, were being transported in 12  Hilux buses belonging to the Gombe State transport and escorted by armed policemen.

The accident occurred about 60 kilometres away from Biu when one of the buses in the convoy tried to avoid another ahead but ended up and skidding off the highway, and somersaulting several times.

According to the president of the Gombe State Students Union (GOSSA), Abdullahi Bello Yero, the accident occurred when some of the vehicles running faster than others slowed down to allow those behind catch up with them.

“The driver of the bus that somersaulted did  not notice that the ones ahead had slowed down, and when he tried to avert crashing into them he went off the road and somersaulted several time,” Yero said.

“But no one died, even though five of the students in the affected bus were seriously injured. We had to lift up the buses before some of the students managed to come out.”

The students eventually got to the campus much later at about 6pm.

The GOSSA president said despite the unfortunate incident, they appreciated the efforts of the Gombe State government for providing them with security escorts and the services of the Gombe Mass Transit.

“The state government footed the bills of welfare for the police escorts and other miscellaneous expenses for us to arrive the campus in one piece. We had waited long after the resumption to get back to school, but the security concerns on the way kept us at home until we were able to secure the assistance of the Gombe state government.


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