Buses collide head on in Nigeria, killing 33

KANO, Nigeria, Sept 7 (Reuters) Two buses collided in a head-on accident in northwest Nigeria today, killing 33 passengers, road marshals said.

One of the vehicles was trying to avoid an animal crossing the road when it smashed into another bus travelling in the opposition direction on the busy Gusau-Talata Mafara highway in Zamfara state, the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) said.

''One of the vehicles caught fire immediately. Thirty-three people died in the accident, while nine others were injured,'' Zamfara FRSC commander Umar Liman told Reuters.

Devastating road accidents are frequent in Nigeria, Africa's most populous country and top oil producer, where a crumbling road network, poorly maintained vehicles and dangerous driving combine to make the roads perilous.

Reuters PDT RN0014