LAGOS—Tragedy struck, yesterday,
afternoon, when a commercial bus suddenly
burst into the fire at Iyana-Oworo, Gbagada
area of Lagos State, killing no fewer than
seven passengers, including a child.
According to an eyewitness, the incident
occurred at about 5 pm, as passersby rushed
to put out the raging fire.
Permanent Secretary of Lagos State
Emergency Management Agency, LASEMA,
Dr. Femi Oke-Osanyitolu, confirmed the
incident and casualties.
Oke-Osanyitolu said: “Upon arrival at the
scene, a commercial bus of 14 passengers,
Mazda, with number plate, KJA 699 GY, was
discovered to have been gutted by fire.
“Further investigation gathered at the scene
revealed that the incident occurred due to
recklessness and over-speeding by the
driver, which resulted in the fire with 12
passengers trapped.
“Fortunately, the driver escaped with some
burns, three female adults were rescued and
rushed to Gbagada General Hospital, while a
male adult was attended to by LASAMBUS at
the scene.
“Unfortunately, seven victims were burnt to
death, including four female, two male
adults and one male child in the bus.”
It was gathered that the burnt bodies of the
victims were later bagged by the agency’s
LRT Paramedics, Lagos State Ambulance
Service, and LASAMBUS officials and handed
over to State Environmental Health
Management Unit, SEHMU.
Men of the Lagos State Traffic Management
Authority, LASTMA, official who cordoned
off the scene of the incident subsequently,
removed the burnt vehicle from the road.
Police officials also provided rescue and
security operations.
