By Taye Obateru

Jos – Twelve lives were lost yesterday  in a ghastly automobile accident involving two vehicles around Kassa in Barakin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State.

The two buses, a Nissan and Ford were said to be travelling in opposite directions along the Jos-Abuja highway when one of them had a burst tyre, following which the driver lost control and ran into the one travelling on the other side of the road.

The Nissan bus, with umber plate XB 910 DAL, was said to be conveying some people from Kaduna to Mangu in Plateau State for a burial ceremony, while the Ford was believed to be conveying supporters of Labour Party to Jos for the launching of the governorship campaign.

Nine occupants of the vehicles were said to have died instantly after the head-on collision, while three others died on their way to hospital.

About seven others are receiving treatment for various degrees of injuries.

Confirming the incident, the state Police Command in a statement by its spokesman, Assistant Superintendent Apev Jacob, said 12 people died in the accident, while those injured were rushed to Plateau Specialist Hospital for medical attention.

The statement added that the corpses of the deceased had been deposited at the Jos University Teaching Hospital for autopsy, while the cause of the accident was being investigated.