At least 16 people were burnt to death on Tuesday in a lone accident involving a Mazda bus at the Buhari Estate axis of the Abeokuta-Sagamu Expressway.
Spokesperson for the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Ogun State, Mrs Florence Okpe, confirmed the incident in a statement issued in Abeokuta.
According to Okpe, the crash occurred around 1:00 p.m. and involved a Mazda bus with registration number KJA 949 YJ.
She explained that the accident was caused by a fire outbreak in the vehicle, which was carrying a filled gas cylinder, leading to an explosion.
A total of 21 people were involved, with 16 fatalities and three others sustaining varying degrees of injuries
“The genders of the victims could not be identified as they were burnt beyond recognition,” Okpe stated.
She added that the injured were taken to the Federal Medical Centre, Idi Aba, Abeokuta, while the corpses remained at the scene awaiting evacuation.
Ogun FRSC Sector Commander, Akinwumi Fasakin, who led a rescue team to the site, expressed dismay over the incident, stressing that the driver should have refused to transport a gas-filled cylinder.
Okpe cautioned motorists against carrying highly flammable materials in passenger vehicles and advised that such items should only be transported by designated vehicles operated by trained drivers.
She urged both drivers and passengers to prioritise safety at all times. (NAN)
