A devastating fire broke out in a commercial bus on the Abuja-Lokoja highway, resulting in the deaths of a woman and her two children. The bus, an 18-seater traveling to Kogi State, suddenly caught fire near Manderegi village, close to Abaji.

Witnesses reported that the fire spread quickly, trapping the woman and her two children, who were unable to escape and were burned beyond recognition. In total, 12 other passengers suffered varying degrees of burns. The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) arrived at the scene to evacuate the victims, transporting the bodies and injured individuals to a hospital in Abaji.

The FCT Sector Commander of the FRSC, Mr. Muta’ah Chorrie, confirmed the incident and highlighted that the driver’s decision to carry a jerrycan filled with fuel alongside passengers was a major factor in the disaster. He stressed that carrying extra fuel in a vehicle with passengers is extremely dangerous, a warning that the FRSC has repeatedly issued to motorists.