At least 42 personnel of the Niger Republic armed forces have died in a fatal road accident involving two buses near Doukou Doukou, a distance of about 55 kilometres from Madaoua.
According to Zagazola Makama, a counter-terrorism
publication, security sources said the accident occurred on Friday, August 7.
The victims were reportedly assistant non-commissioned
officers who completed their training on Thursday and were travelling when the
two buses were involved in the crash.
Security sources said eighteen other personnel remain in
critical condition and are reportedly in comas following the accident.
It stated that the circumstances surrounding the crash were
not immediately clear.
Makama said the incident raised questions over the
transportation arrangements for military personnel.
The publication said there were claims that the soldiers
were being conveyed in buses operated by a private company despite the army
reportedly having its own troop transport vehicles.
The publication said the allegations of corruption
surrounding the use of the private transport service could not be independently
verified.
Makama said that the tragedy is expected to trigger renewed
scrutiny of military logistics, troop transportation and safety standards,
particularly for newly trained personnel.
It said it could not independently verify the reported
casualty figures and the allegations concerning the choice of transport at the
time of filing this report.
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