Five people have been confirmed dead, while eight others sustained critical injuries in a road accident that occurred on Sunday in Agaie Local Government Area of Niger State.

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) Desk Officer in Agaie, Hussaini Guregi, confirmed the incident.

According to Guregi, the crash involved a trailer conveying about 40 passengers and a tanker.

He said the trailer was travelling from Gusau, Zamfara State, to Shagamu, Ogun State, when the accident occurred.

“Five persons died on the spot, while the injured were taken to the General Hospital, Agaie, for treatment,” he said.

Guregi explained that the accident happened after the passenger-laden trailer attempted to avoid a faulty tanker parked on the road while another trailer was overtaking.

“The accident was caused by a faulty tanker stationed on the road and an attempted overtake by another trailer. As the trailer conveying the passengers attempted to avoid the tanker, it lost control and crashed,” he added.

The bodies of the deceased have been deposited at the General Hospital, Agaie, morgue, while the injured are receiving treatment.