A tragic road accident along the Yauri–Birnin Kebbi highway has claimed the life of a driver and left 13 students of Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto (UDUS) injured. The crash occurred on Wednesday near Yauri in Kebbi State as the students were returning from Ilorin, Kwara State, to Sokoto.

According to eyewitness accounts, the vehicle lost control in what appears to be a high-impact crash. The driver died instantly at the scene, while the students sustained various degrees of injuries and were rushed to nearby medical facilities.

“It was a terrible scene. The impact was serious. The driver didn’t make it,” a local resident who witnessed the aftermath told reporters.

Reports indicate that eight of the students sustained bone fractures, while five others are currently receiving treatment at the Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital (UDUTH) in Sokoto.

Medical personnel confirmed that the injured are responding to treatment but emphasized that some cases remain critical and will require prolonged orthopedic care.

The university community has expressed deep sorrow, with prayers pouring in for the quick recovery of the victims and condolences sent to the family of the deceased driver.

While the state grapples with the tragic accident, political tensions are simmering in Kebbi State, as the Malami Support Organisation fired back at critics questioning the political viability of former Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami, ahead of the 2027 governorship race.

The group dismissed claims that Malami is no longer relevant in Kebbi’s political equation, arguing that such narratives only reflect his growing influence and the unease it has stirred among political opponents.

Speaking on Channels Television, Muhammad Al’amin, Zonal Coordinator of New Media for the organisation, stated that Malami’s defection from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has rattled the state’s political structure.

“Since Malami joined the ADC, many APC members have had sleepless nights. Those same people are the ones claiming the ADC is dead on arrival,” Al’amin said.

He further argued that Malami’s departure from the APC was principled, citing the party’s failure to uphold its original values. He also claimed that Malami was a pivotal figure in the rise of Governor Nasir Idris, insisting:

“It is Malami who made the APC, not the APC that made Malami.”

Al’amin also lambasted the current administration, accusing it of failing to improve education and healthcare in the state—two sectors where he claimed Malami had the support of the public due to his advocacy and track record.

“The Kebbi government has failed to salvage people from suffering. Look at education, look at healthcare—people are tired,” he lamented.

Despite rising political rhetoric, the Malami camp insists that the former AGF is committed to a non-confrontational approach. Al’amin cited recent examples of political intolerance, including alleged disruptions of opposition meetings by APC supporters.

“We saw what happened last month when the PDP tried to hold a stakeholders’ meeting. APC supporters did everything they could to stop it,” he said.

A tragic road accident has left one dead and 13 injured, shaking the Usmanu Danfodiyo University community.

• Meanwhile, Abubakar Malami’s re-entry into frontline politics is creating ripples in Kebbi State, with his supporters pushing back against doubts over his influence.

As the state mourns a tragedy and prepares for political reconfiguration, all eyes remain on both the hospital wards—and the ballot box.