A family of three died in a car crash along the Mabushi Bridge in Abuja on Wednesday, after the driver had an altercation with some louts, resulting in the crash that killed the family instantly.

Our correspondent gathered that the Touts had stopped the private vehicle for flouting their rules by reportedly stopping to pick up a passenger who was a relative without paying them.

The refusal of the driver to pay the “fine” angered the touts, who then hopped in the vehicle, dragging the steering wheel and eventually causing the accident.

Subsequently, angered passersby who witnessed the scene chased down the touts, eventually setting one of them on fire, and severely injuring the other two, who were rescued and rushed to the hospital by the police.

A parallel account, however, claimed that five persons were involved in the crash – a family of two and three touts who forced themselves into the vehicle while it was in motion.

Eyewitnesses said the vehicle then collided with a painted taxi, near the Mabushi bridge, before veering off the road into a ditch.

The family reportedly died on the spot, while the three others were rescued and taken to the National Hospital for treatment.

The wreckage was consequently cleared by officers of the Mabushi Police Division.

Our correspondent is yet to receive any official statements from the Police Public Relations Officer of the FCT Police Command, SP Josephine Adeh.

Road traffic accidents and touting remain a serious public safety concern in Nigeria and have become a menace in the federal capital now..

The Mabushi area, located along one of Abuja’s busiest corridors linking the Central Business District with Jabi and Wuse, has been notorious for traffic gridlock, touting activities, and occasional road rage incidents.

Illegal louts operating near motor parks and bus stops in the area are known to harass private motorists and commercial drivers for alleged traffic infractions, their daily dues, sometimes escalating into physical confrontation.

Authorities have repeatedly warned against such extortion and harassment, but enforcement remains patchy.

In July 2024, the FCT Administration and the Directorate of Road Traffic Services announced a clampdown on illegal louts, promising to prosecute offenders to curb violence on major roads.

Incidents like the Mabushi crash raise fresh concerns about road safety, lout-related violence, and the need for effective policing to prevent avoidable loss of lives.