Public road accident
Details
Event title
Niger - 22 killed, 37 injured as two buses collide in southern Niger, 17 soldiers among dead
Source
Severity
Mid
Event date (UTC)
2026-08-09 11:41:14
Last update (UTC)
2026-08-09 11:41:14
Area range
Local event
Address/Affected area(s)
Maradi-Madaoua road, Département de Madaoua, Région de Tahoua
A head-on collision between two buses in southern Niger left at least 22 people dead, including 17 soldiers, while 37 others were injured, the country's transport ministry said on Saturday. The crash occurred on Friday night, around 50 kilometres (35 miles) from the town of Madaoua.
According to the transport ministry, the two buses collided head-on. Earlier on Saturday, the state-run ANP news agency reported that one of the buses was carrying soldiers and said an investigation had been opened to determine the cause of the accident.
Road safety concerns remain
The latest crash comes as authorities continue campaigns to raise awareness about road safety in Niger, where traffic accidents remain a frequent occurrence.
According to the Nigerien Agency for Road Safety, the country recorded more than 7,000 road accidents in 2025, resulting in over 1,200 deaths and leaving more than 4,400 people with serious injuries.
Officials have identified speeding, drink-driving, and the poor condition of roads and vehicles as the main causes of such accidents.