A tragic incident occurred on the Abuja-Lokoja highway when a commercial bus caught fire near Manderegi village, close to Abaji. A middle-aged woman and her two children were killed in the blaze, while 12 other passengers sustained various degrees of burns.
The bus, an 18-seater with the registration number BGT 996 LG, was en route to Kogi State, carrying a total of 18 passengers. Witnesses reported that the bus suddenly erupted in flames, trapping the woman and her children, who were unable to escape. The fire left them unrecognizable.
Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) officials swiftly responded to the scene, evacuating the victims’ remains and those injured to a nearby hospital in Abaji for treatment.
The FCT Sector Commander of the FRSC, Mr. Muta’ah Chorrie, confirmed the tragic event and criticized the driver for transporting jerrycans filled with fuel alongside the passengers. He warned of the inherent dangers, emphasizing that such reckless behavior, despite ongoing safety campaigns, continues to put lives at risk. “Carrying extra fuel in a bus with passengers is a serious hazard,” Chorrie stated.
This heartbreaking incident highlights the critical need for stricter safety regulations on the roads to prevent such tragedies in the future.
