A tragic accident claimed the lives of sixteen passengers on Tuesday when a Mazda bus went up in flames along Buhari Estate on the Abeokuta-Sagamu Expressway in Ogun State.
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) spokesperson in Ogun State, Florence Okpe, confirmed the incident in a statement, revealing that the accident occurred around 1 pm.
According to Okpe, the ill-fated Mazda bus, bearing registration number KJA 949 YJ, was traveling from Ibadan via Abeokuta to Ota when it was engulfed in fire, leading to an explosion.
“The fire outbreak in the vehicle was aggravated by a filled gas cylinder being transported in it, which eventually led to an explosion,” Okpe stated.
She disclosed that a total of 21 people were involved in the accident, with 16 confirmed dead, while others sustained varying degrees of injuries.
The FRSC Sector Commander in Ogun State, Akinwumi Fasakin, led his team to the crash scene for a rescue operation but expressed deep displeasure over the incident.
“The driver should have objected to carrying a cylinder filled with gas,” Fasakin was quoted as saying, stressing that highly flammable items should be transported with extreme caution and only in designated vehicles operated by trained drivers.
Okpe further advised motorists and passengers to always prioritize safety when using the roads to prevent such tragic occurrences.
The remains of the deceased have been evacuated, while survivors are receiving medical attention.
