Nigerian authorities have warned that transport companies STM and SONITRAV could face serious sanctions, including the withdrawal of their operating licences, following a deadly head-on collision that killed 22 people, including 17 soldiers, and injured 37 others. The crash occurred Friday morning in Doukou Doukou, in the Madaoua department of the Tahoua region. An STM bus travelling from Madaoua collided with a SONITRAV bus coming from Zinder. The SONITRAV vehicle was carrying mainly soldiers who had completed their training.
Transport Minister Colonel-Major Abdouramane Amadou summoned representatives of both companies in Niamey and ordered an investigation to establish what caused the crash and determine responsibility. Authorities from the Transport Ministry, the Nigerien Road Safety Agency and the National Gendarmerie are involved in the inquiry. The minister described the accident as unacceptable and called for stricter compliance with road-safety rules, including vehicle maintenance, driver discipline and mandatory driving and rest periods.
Depending on the findings, the company found responsible could receive a warning, temporary suspension or loss of its operating licence, alongside possible legal action. The investigation comes after other serious road crashes in Niger this year, highlighting continuing concerns over road safety and passenger transport standards. In February, a separate collision involving a SONITRAV bus near Tabalak in the Tahoua region killed three people and was reportedly linked to excessive speed and poor visibility caused by dust. Authorities say the latest investigation will not only seek accountability for the Doukou Doukou tragedy but also identify measures to prevent similar accidents on Niger’s roads.
