By Nation
Seven passengers of a 16-seater bus were burnt beyond recognition when a Mazda bus conveying them went up in flames.
The lone accident occurred a few metres away from Odogbolu junction along the Sagamu-Benin expressway.
They were going for a four-day training programme, tagged Al-Mu’minaat Training Forum (ATF) at Vanguard Academy, Odosengolu near Ijebu-ode, Ogun State.
The annual training programme was organised by the national body Al-Mu’minaat (The Believing Women) Organisation.
The bus marked AGL 886 YD suddenly exploded with flames from the engine side.
The spokesman of the Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps (TRACE), Babatunde Akinbiyi, confirmed the accident.
He said seven females had burns while seven other females were burnt beyond recognition.
“The lone fatal crash was coming from the Kosofe area of Lagos when it’s engine suddenly caught fire due to engine overflow (over float).
“The number of passengers in the commercial bus was 15, out of which seven females were burnt to death, while the remaining seven were seriously burnt and taken to Ijebu-Ode General Hospital for treatment. However, the driver of the bus escaped.
“The Mazda bus had been taken to Odogbolu Motor Traffic Division of the Nigeria Police,” Akinbiyi said.
He commiserated with the families of the deceased, wished the injured speedy recovery and urged motorists to maintain their vehicles regularly as well as carry out a daily routine checks on the vehicle before setting out on a journey.
The National Amirah (President) of Al-Mu’minaat, Alhaja Nimatallah AbdulQadri, described the incident as shocking and saddening.
She said some with fractures have been taken to the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Igbobi.
Alhaja AbdulQadri prayed to Allah to grant those who died Al-Jannah Firdaus (Paradise).
While commiserating with the victims and family of the deceased ones, she said the whole organisation is with them in the moment of grief.