Four passengers were burnt beyond recognition and 18 others sustained various degrees of injuries after an 18-seater commuter bus burst into flames near Yangoji village, along the Abuja-Lokoja highway.

A witness said the accident occurred on Saturday at about 7:59 am, involving a Toyota 18-seater commuter bus with registration number AKK 288 ZA.

According to the witness, the bus was traveling from the Lokoja axis at high speed when it suddenly veered off the road.

He said the driver lost control of the vehicle, which then crashed into a ditch and caught fire.

“Of the 22 passengers on board, four were burnt beyond recognition. The remaining passengers sustained various injuries. The charred remains were later retrieved by a rescue team from the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and deposited at a hospital morgue,” the witness said.

An official of the FRSC, who participated in the rescue operation but requested anonymity, confirmed the fatalities.

He said the 18 surviving passengers—some of whom suffered severe burns, fractures, and bruises—were rushed to various facilities for treatment, including Rhema Hospital in Kwali.

The official clarified that all 22 passengers involved in the crash were male.

He noted that the rescue operation was a joint effort between the FRSC and police officers from the Kwali Division.

He attributed the cause of the crash to speed limit violations and loss of control. (Daily Trust)

•PHOTO: Some of the trapped victims rescued by the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) at the scene of an accident near Kwaita village, along the Abuja - Lokoja highway yesterday