By Yemi Monday
Bauchi State Sector Command of the Federal Roads Safety Corps (FRSC) has confirmed the death of 18 people who were burnt in a multiple fatal crash that occurred few kilometers to Nabardo village along the ever-busy Bauchi-Jos Federal highway road.
The FRSC Sector Commander, Yusuf Abdullahi, said that the accident, which occurred on Wednesday at about 4.40pm, involved two commercial vehicles, a Toyota Hiace bus with registration number FKE 688 YC and a MAN Trailer which registration number could not be ascertained as of the time of the accident.
He noted that the bus had a head-on collision with an oncoming trailer and immediately went into flames.
Yusuf Abdullahi disclosed that 21 people, comprising of 18 male adults and three children were involved in the crash.
He expressed sadness over the incident saying that despite the unrelenting and tireless efforts of the Corps at sensitizing drivers and other road users on the dangers associated with speed violation and other traffic regulations, people have continued to refuse to observe simple road traffic regulations.
Abdullahi lamented: ‘It is a very, very sad situation really. It is also very disheartening. It is a very bad report against us in the entire country. We spent two to three hours everyday sensitizing them and telling them that their overspending and recklessness cannot take them anywhere but will only end their dream and life overnight.
“Just look at this incident now, both the driver and the entire occupants of this bus were burnt into ashes. You can’t identify anyone of them.
“The unfortunate and sad incident this evening that 18 people were killed in a fatal crash that occurred today, Wednesday, 4th January, 2023 at about three kilometers to Nabardo village, along Bauchi-Jos Road.
“The multiple fatal crash was caused by a speed violation. We were made to understand that as he was coming, he lost control and left his lane and faced an oncoming trailer and you know that the fuel tank of a hummer bus is, very close to the engine.”
According to the Sector Commander, “the moment it has a head-on collision, the next thing is for it to go up flames. So, when this happened, it went up in flames as usual. It happened about three kilometers to Nabardo village.”
“The incident happened in a bush where there were no people, there was nobody close that could render any assistance. The whole vehicle and the occupants were burnt down to ashes completely.”
The FRSC added: “The mass burial of the ashes had been done by the Nigeria Police Force and Social Welfare Officers.”