Pascal Arogorn Ibe
Bello Matawalle, governor of Zamfara, says his administration will introduce death sentence for reckless drivers in the state.
The development came after the death of 15 of his supporters in a road accident after they welcomed him to Tsafe local government area.
The accident occurred when a truck lost control and rammed into four vehicles conveying supporters of Matawalle along Gusau-Funtua Road in Tsafe.
In a statement on Saturday, Yusuf Idris, the governor’s director of media, public enlightenment and communication, said death sentence will be introduced as a measure to punish reckless drivers.
Idris said the governor disclosed the decision when he led members of his executive council and the management of BUA Group of Industries on a condolence visit to the palace of Ibrahim Bello, emir of Gusau, over the death of the 15 people.
He said the new law will ensure that such reckless drivers are compelled by law to pay compensation on every life lost.
Matawalle announced a donation of N2 million to families of each of the deceased who had a wife, and N1.5 million to families of deceased who were unmarried.
He said the next of kin of each of the victims will be placed on the state’s payroll for a monthly allowance of N50,000 until the end of his tenure.
The governor added that his administration will introduce speed limit gauge on highways, weight measurement on trucks, and drug tests for drivers in order to prevent reckless driving, which often results in death.
Matawalle said the new law will ensure that drivers suffer for taking the lives of citizens in the state.
He urged the management of BUA company to call their drivers to order and caution them on acceptable speed limit.
In his remarks, Aminu Suleiman, team leader of BUA company, said the team members came to condole with the government, Gusau emirate, people of the state and the immediate families of those who were killed as a result of an accident involving the company’s driver.
The emir commended Matawalle and BUA company over their concern, noting that every life must taste death.
He added that the donations will be well utilised for the intended purpose.
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