From Ahmad Mohammed, Bauchi
The Corp Commander, Bauchi Sector Command, Federal Road Safety Corp, FRSC Abdulrazak Najume has disclosed that 28 people have been burnt to death in a fatal auto crash that occurred at Gubi Bauchi-Ningi road Bauchi – Kano Federal Highway..
Abdulrazak told reporters in Bauchi on Thursday that the accident occurred Wednesday at about midnight when two vehicles had a head-on collision.
He said It involved two vehicles, a Peugeot J5 Bus and a Toyota Hiace Bus, 18-seater Hummer Bus with Number Plate: ZRM-91XA while that of the second vehicle couldn’t be ascertained as it was burnt beyond recognition.
“In all, 28 people, 24 in the Hummer 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.”
Abdulrazak said that the charred bodies and the victims who sustained serious injuries were taken to the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital, Bauchi for confirmation and treatment.
He said that the accident occurred when the driver of the Hummer Bus who was sleeping, lost control and had a head-on collision with the other vehicle which had cows in it.
He said he led FRSC officials to the scene of the crash at exactly 6.49am for a rescue operation earlier on Thursday morning.
“The vehicle took off from Dutsinma in Katsina State and was on its way to Adamawa State when the accident occurred. There were 29 people who were involved in the crash and only one survived.
“The driver of the Hummer Bus was sleeping and he suddenly woke up to see the other 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 all burnt beyond recognition. It was only the driver of the Hummer Bus that survived with serious injuries.
The FRSC boss who expressed sadness over the unfortunate accident cautioned drivers to be more careful while on the road to avoid loss of lives and properties on the highway.
“This is saddening and unfortunate losing 28 people in a day in an accident. These drivers need a change of character and attitude because you should just carry people and driver anyhow just to go and kill them.
“You see, the driver of the bus was sleeping while driving and it was very late at night. They should avoid night journeys because this accident was very fatal. I went there myself with my men and you could see how people got roasted, people melted. We saw a head inside the vehicle but there was no body, it’s very unfortunate,” he stated.
