Black Sunday: 7 People, Child, Die As Commercial Bus Catches Fire in Lagos

Tragedy struck on Sunday afternoon, when a commercial bus suddenly burst into fire at Iyaana-Oworo, Gbagada area of Lagos State, killing at least 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 passenger Mazda with registration number KJA 699 GY was discovered to have been gutted with fire.

“Further investigation gathered at the scene revealed that the incident occurred due to recklessness and overspeeding 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, and two male adults and one male child ) in the bus.”

It was gathered that all the remains 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.

Members of the Nigeria Police also provided rescue and security operations.