At least 40 people, most of them children, have died in a road accident in Nigeria’s Kaduna state.
The crash occurred on Sunday when a bus collided with a lorry on Saminaka Road in Lere local government area.
The victims were travelling to celebrate Eid-el Maulud, an Islamic holiday marking the birth of the Prophet Muhammad.
Kabiru Nadabo, from Nigeria’s Federal Road Safety Corps, told the BBC the bus was overloaded and speeding when it lost control.
“This accident serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of reckless driving,” Mr Nadabo said.
The death toll rose from an initial 25 as more victims died from their injuries in hospital.
Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani has ordered health officials to ensure survivors receive necessary medical care.
Mr Nadabo said an investigation into the incident had been launched.
“We must learn from this tragedy and work towards preventing such incidents in the future,” he added.
Road accidents are common in Nigeria, often due to poorly maintained vehicles, bad roads and reckless driving.
