A heavily pregnant woman, Ruth Nen Maurice, has died in a tragic road accident in Jos, Plateau State, after being struck by a reckless driver attempting to evade officials of the Vehicle Inspection Office (VIO) on Tuesday, May 19, 2026. The incident occurred in the city center, where the woman was standing by the roadside waiting for a vehicle to take her to a hospital for antenatal care. Eyewitnesses reported that the driver was performing dangerous maneuvers to escape a VIO checkpoint when he collided with Ruth, who was carrying twins and nearing her due date. The impact proved fatal, cutting short her life and that of her unborn children.
Ruth’s close friend, Ewan Boss Julz Odumu, shared the heartbreaking news on Facebook on Wednesday, expressing deep sorrow over the loss. “Ruth Nen Maurice… My dear, it’s hard to post this but God knows best,” he wrote in an emotional post. He emphasized that Ruth was expecting twins and had been preparing to welcome them into the world, only to be taken away by a senseless act of recklessness. “A mother who was preparing to welcome twins back home never made it alive. Her unborn babies never got the chance to cry, breathe, or see this world because of somebody’s reckless decision,” Odumu lamented, urging God to grant strength to the grieving family.
The Plateau State Police Command confirmed the incident through its spokesman, DSP Alfred Alabo, who stated that the driver involved has been arrested. He added that a full investigation is underway and that the suspect will face charges in court once the probe is concluded. Authorities are working to determine the full circumstances of the crash, including whether the driver was under the influence or operating a vehicle with safety violations. Despite efforts to reach the state Chief Vehicle Inspection Officer, Mr. Jonathan Zam, for comment, he remained unresponsive to calls and messages.
This incident has sparked renewed calls for stricter enforcement of traffic regulations and better safety measures around VIO checkpoints in Jos and other parts of Nigeria. The tragic loss of Ruth Nen Maurice and her unborn twins highlights the dangers posed by reckless driving and the urgent need for public awareness and accountability on Nigerian roads. As investigations continue, the incident serves as a stark reminder of the human cost of negligence and the importance of road safety for all.
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