Eight male students from the University of Jos lost their lives in the early morning hours of Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025, after a collision between a trailer and a bus carrying 11 students along Zaria Road in Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria. The accident occurred around 2:30 a.m. in the Jos North Local Government Area. The bus driver also died in the crash.

Peter Longsan, the public education officer for the Federal Road Safety Corps in Plateau State, confirmed the incident in a statement released Thursday. Seven students died at the scene, while an eighth victim succumbed to injuries after being transported to a hospital. Three other students remained hospitalized, receiving treatment for their injuries.

“Today, 11th December 2025, FRSC Plateau State Sector Command received a distress call at about 0230 hours, reporting a road traffic crash opposite Unity Bank on Zaria Road, Jos,” Longsan stated. “The crash involved two vehicles, a trailer and a bus. Eleven people were on board the bus and were said to be students of the University of Jos.”

Eyewitness accounts indicated the bus was traveling at high speed and engaged in wrongful overtaking maneuvers when the driver lost control, resulting in the collision with the trailer. The bus crashed into an electric pole after the crash. The dangerous combination of excessive speed and improper passing left the driver unable to maintain control of the vehicle. Authorities launched a manhunt for the trailer driver who fled the scene.

The location of the accident, near the Farin Gada bridge in the Zaria Road Stadium area, became the scene of emergency response efforts as authorities worked to extract victims and transport survivors to medical facilities. The Federal Road Safety Corps responded after receiving the distress call in the pre-dawn hours. The students were reportedly returning from a night outing when the tragic incident occurred.

FRSC Plateau State Sector Commander Olajide Mogaji addressed the incident by urging motorists to exercise greater caution on Nigerian roads. He emphasized the importance of avoiding night trips, excessive speed, dangerous driving, operating vehicles under the influence of substances, and driving while fatigued or unwell. These factors represent major contributors to fatal road crashes across the country.

“The government needs you alive and wants you to enjoy life to the fullest this festive season and beyond,” Mogaji said, appealing to drivers to prioritize safety during the December holiday period when road travel typically increases.

The University of Jos Vice Chancellor, Prof. Tanko Ishaya, addressed the devastating loss during a scheduled press briefing on Thursday. He confirmed that the institution had lost eight students in the severe accident. The briefing had been planned to discuss the university’s upcoming combined 35th and 36th convocation and Golden Jubilee ceremonies.

The Plateau State Government issued an official response expressing deep shock and profound sadness over the fatal crash. State Commissioner for Information and Communication Hon. Joyce Ramnap released a statement conveying heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased students, the University of Jos community, and all friends and loved ones affected by the incident.

Ramnap described the loss as devastating not only to the families but to the entire state, noting that the young victims represented hope, potential, and the bright future of Plateau. The government encouraged the university community and the general public to remain calm and united during this period of grief.

The state government pledged to stand with all affected families and promised to continue offering necessary support as they navigate this difficult time. The commissioner’s statement emphasized the irreplaceable nature of the loss suffered by families who sent their children to pursue higher education.

Road safety remains a persistent challenge in Nigeria, where accidents frequently claim lives due to factors including speeding, poor vehicle maintenance, inadequate road infrastructure, and driver fatigue. The December holiday season typically sees increased traffic volume as people travel to visit family members, raising the risk of accidents on major highways and urban roads.

For the University of Jos community, the loss of eight students in a single incident represents one of the most significant tragedies in recent memory. The timing of the accident, occurring during what should be a celebratory period leading up to convocation ceremonies, has cast a shadow over the institution.

The three surviving students remain under medical care, with their conditions not publicly disclosed.