No fewer than 28 people have been burnt to death in a fatal auto crash which occurred along Ningi federal highway, Bauchi state.
Rilwan Suleiman, spokesman of the state Sector Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), said the accident happened on Thursday afternoon, December 12.
Najume explained that the accident involved two vehicles, a Peugeot J5 Bus and a Toyota Hiace Bus.
He said “The 18-seat Hiace bus had number plate ZRM-91XA, while the number plate of the second vehicle couldn’t be ascertained, as it was burnt beyond recognition.” He added that he led FRSC officials to the scene of the crash at about 6.49am for a rescue operation.
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According to him, “Yes, the accident is true. The accident occurred at Gubi Gari Village, along Bauchi-Kano highway. The driver of the Hiace bus was sleeping and he suddenly woke up to see the oncoming vehicle, but he lost control and had a head-on collision with the J5.
“Immediately the crash occurred, the two vehicles caught fire and all of them, including the passengers and the cows, were burnt beyond recognition. It was only the driver of the Hiace bus that survived, with serious injuries. In all, 28 people — 24 in the Hiace bus and four in the J5 — were burnt beyond recognition.
“We could only identify that four of them were males, while the sexes of the others could not be ascertained because they were burnt beyond recognition.”
Najume said the charred bodies and the lone victim who sustained serious injuries were taken to the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital, Bauchi, for confirmation and treatment, respectively.