Four children were among 20 passengers who were burnt beyond recognition in a fatal crash on Tuesday at Huturu village along the Bauchi-Kano Road in Bauchi State.
Our correspondent learnt that the crash involved two commercial buses, a Volkswagen Golf mini-bus and a Volkswagen Sharon Wagon.
The Bauchi State Sector Commander, Federal Road Safety Corps, Yusuf Abdullahi, confirmed the incident.
He said the crash happened around 11.30am and it took the FRSC rescue team 12 minutes to arrive at the scene.
Abdullahi said the crash was caused by speed violation.
He said, “Yes, there was a crash this morning around 11.30am at Huturu village, along the Bauchi-Kano Road. It involved two commercial vehicles.
“The vehicles include a Volkswagen Golf 3 minibus with number plate, SHD184YU, and a Volkswagen Sharon Wagon.
“The crash was fatal as the two vehicles were engulfed in fire. When we were called for rescue, our personnel rushed to the scene and they discovered that 20 passengers, comprising 11 male adults, five female adults, one male child and three female children, were burnt beyond recognition.
“Our men rushed the one male adult who was injured to the Kafin Madaki General Hospital for medical treatment, while the burnt corpses will be buried at Huturu village.”
He said the operation was carried out by a joint team of FRSC personnel, men of the Nigeria Police Force attached to the Kafin Madaki division, the state fire service and the Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa International Airport Fire Service, Bauchi.
The FRSC boss expressed worry over the attitude of drivers who drive recklessly and disobey road traffic rules and regulations.
Three die in Taraba explosion
In another development, the police in Taraba State on Tuesday said three people were killed and 19 injured when an explosive device went off at a local drinking spot in Iware town, in the Ardo-Kola Local Government Area of the state.
The Taraba State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abdulallahi Usman, confirmed the incident to journalists in Jalingo, the state capital.
But residents said many people were killed and dozens injured when the explosive device went off.
An eyewitness, Saidu Umar, told our correspondent on the phone that many of those wounded were taken to Jalingo for treatment.
“I cannot tell you the exact number, but many people were killed in the explosion.
“The explosion went off while the market was busy and many people were lying lifeless on the ground.
“The teenager who was suspected to have brought the explosive device was also killed by an angry mob,” he added.
Iware is a town located 22 kilometres away from Jalingo, the state capital.
This is the second time in three months that an explosive device will go off in Taraba.
The first happened in January at a Catholic school in the neighbouring Gassol Local Government Area, a few kilometres away from Iware where the second explosive went off on Tuesday.
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