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| The Burnt Bus |
Eleven people were burnt to death on Sunday afternoon, in an accident at the Macmillan area, few metres before Soka Bus Stop, on Ibadan/Lagos Expressway, Ibadan.
According to an eyewitness, occupants of the Mazda bus, a commercial vehicle, were coming from Ogido in Ogun State and heading to Beere in Ibadan, to attend a Wolimat programme of a family member.
It was also gathered that most of the occupants were dressed in a uniformed ankara for the occasion.
The propeller of the bus, according to the eyewitness, pulled out on the motion and hit the fuel tank, catching flame in the process.
The driver of the bus, in an attempt to save the situation, veered off the road and hit a hip of sand by the side of the road.
After taking the vehicle to a halt, the driver and two passengers at the front escaped, but others were not so lucky, as the side door was locked.
The occupants were reported to have struggled with one another in a bid to escape, while the 11 casualties, comprising eight adults and three children, were burnt to death.
The eyewitness said 13 other occupants of the vehicle, including the driver, sustained various degrees of burn injuries and were taken to the Adeoyo Hospital and University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan.
Confirming the incident to the Nigerian Tribune, the Assistant Corps Commander and Unit Commander, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Oluyole Ibadan/Lagos Toll Gate, Mr Adeoye Sanya, said “the FRSC was informed about the accident around 1.00 p.m.
“I can confirm to you that the bus was badly loaded and from the report — both survivals and the dead —13 injured and 11 were burnt to death, the claim can be established. The driver is among the four male victims taken to the Adeoyo Hospital, while nine others, seven adults and two children, were taken to the UCH.”
Sanya said after being informed of the development, the quick intervention of FRSC officers led to the rescue of some of the victims.
The remains of the 11 victims were taken away in sacks by the men of the FRSC in two vans with registration number FRSC 522 RS and FRSC 525 RS.
Meanwhile, a middle-aged man, who was among the onlookers, collapsed when men of the FRSC were pulling out the charred bodies from the bus.
It took the intervention of some of his colleagues to revive him.
Source: Tribune
