At least 120 people have died in crashes on the Damaturu–Buni Yadi–Biu road, with officials and residents blaming its poor condition and linking it to worsening insecurity.
No fewer than 120 persons have lost their lives in fatal accidents along the 130-kilometre Damaturu–Buni Yadi–Biu road linking Yobe State and Borno State. The highway, constructed by the Federal Government in the 1980s, has been described by drivers and commuters as a death trap that has claimed lives for over three decades. Many road users attributed the frequent crashes to its deteriorating condition, marked by deep potholes and failed sections.
The Yobe State Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps, Mr Andrew Longkam, who spoke at the weekend on the state of the road, said accident rates declined by only 25 per cent in 2025. “The rate of auto crashes along this road reduced by only 25 per cent in 2025,” he said, noting that the marginal improvement came despite the filling of multiple potholes and repairs carried out on certain sections in 2023 and 2024.
A recent crash victim in July, who requested anonymity, said the poor condition of the highway has compounded insecurity in the area. “As the military counter-terrorism operations are ongoing, this road fuels insurgency and kidnappings of persons along the road since July 2009,” the source said. He added that terrorists exploit the neglected road to abduct and kill motorists and travellers along the Damaturu–Biu axis.
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