Five children from the same family have been killed after a water tanker collided with a commercial tricycle conveying them to school in Gombe State.
The fatal accident occurred on Tuesday morning near Kanady Academy, along APC Square in the Government Reserved Area of Gombe metropolis.
The victims were identified as Maryam Mansir Adamu and Usman Mansir Adamu, both Primary Five pupils of Jekadafari Primary School; Hauwau Mansir Adamu of Government Junior Secondary School, Jekadafari; Aliyu Mansir Adamu of Government Day Secondary School, Ahmadu Gombe; and Fatima Mansir Adamu, whose school was not disclosed.
Three other children sustained injuries in the crash and were taken to hospital for treatment.
The Federal Road Safety Corps Sector Commander in the state, Samson Kaura, confirmed the incident, saying personnel of the corps arrived at the scene after the initial rescue operation had been concluded.
Kaura said FRSC officials later visited the hospital to establish the number of casualties.
A source at Specialist Hospital, Gombe, disclosed that the injured children and the drivers involved in the accident were taken to the Federal Teaching Hospital, Gombe, for medical attention.
The bodies of the five deceased children were deposited at the mortuary.
Reacting to the tragedy, Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya described the deaths as heartbreaking, saying the loss of five children from one family was a devastating blow to their parents, relatives, schools and the entire state.
In a statement issued by his Director-General of Press Affairs, Ismaila Uba Misilli, the governor lamented that the children died at a tender age when they should have been pursuing their education and looking forward to a promising future.
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He sympathised with the bereaved family and the Jekadafari community, describing the incident as an irreparable loss.
The governor also prayed for the quick recovery of the three injured children receiving medical care.
Yahaya urged motorists to exercise caution and responsibility on the roads, warning that reckless driving and other dangerous practices could expose innocent people to avoidable harm.
He called on drivers to obey traffic regulations, maintain safe speeds, avoid dangerous manoeuvres and ensure their vehicles were roadworthy.
The governor further emphasised the need for extra vigilance when transporting schoolchildren and other vulnerable passengers, urging road users to prioritise safety.
He extended his condolences to the affected family, the management and staff of the schools attended by the deceased, their classmates and the wider community.
Yahaya prayed to Almighty Allah to grant the children Aljannatul Firdaus and give their family the strength to bear the loss.