In Bauchi: 24 family members burnt to death in auto crash

No fewer than 28 persons were burnt to death on Thursday in an auto crash that occurred on the Bauchi-Ningi Expressway in Bauchi State.

The victims, including 24 members of a family, were said to be going for a wedding.

Punch learnt that the accident occurred around midnight when two vehicles had a head-on collision.

The Commander, Bauchi Sector Command, Federal Road Safety Corps, Abdulrazak Najume, confirmed the accident to  one of our correspondents in a telephone interview.

He said the crash involved a Peugeot J5 bus with number plate ZRM 91 XA and a Toyota Hummer bus, whose number plate could not be ascertained as it was burnt beyond recognition.

Najume stated that the accident occurred when the driver of the Hummer bus fell asleep and lost control of the vehicle, which collided with the J5 bus, which was conveying cows.

The commander said he led officials of the FRSC to the scene of the crash around 6.49am for rescue operations.

Najume said the charred remains of the deceased and the driver, who sustained serious injuries, were taken to the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital, Bauchi, for confirmation and treatment.

The FRSC boss, who expressed sadness over the accident, cautioned drivers to be more careful on the roads to avoid loss of lives and properties.

A relation of the victims, Abdullahi Yamadi, described the accident as “very sad.”

Yamadi, who is the Secretary, North-West Zone, Nigeria Union of Journalists, said 24 of the deceased were his relatives.

He said they were on their way to Yola, Adamawa State, for a wedding when the crash occurred.
Punch