AT least 21 people have been burnt to death in an auto crash that occurred on Thursday, March 23, at Udubo, Gamawa Local Government Area (LGA) of Bauchi State.
Public Relations Officer of the Bauchi State Police Command Ahmed Mohammed Wakil disclosed this in a statement on Friday, March 24.
Wakil noted that the accident involved a lone Hummer 18-seater bus travelling to Borno from Jigawa. One of the tires on the vehicle blew up, and the driver lost control of the vehicle.
“The vehicle burst into flame with twenty-one (21) passengers on board. On receipt of the report, a team of policemen led by the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) promptly rushed to the scene and conveyed the victims to the FMC Azare for medical attention, where they were confirmed dead by a medical doctor,” the statement read.
All the passengers on board got burnt beyond recognition. Wakil also noted that four persons seated by the roadside were hit during the incident and were severely injured.
He identified the four persons as Inspector Dauda Adamu attached to Police Mobile Force (10PMF) Bauchi, Sanusi Yusuf, 42, Mohd Sule,37, and Mohd Kawule, 45yrs all of Udubo village.
However, the injured persons died while receiving medical attention, bringing the total number of deaths to 25.
“The corpses were later released to their family for burial. However, the twenty-one (21) other corpses burnt beyond recognition were taken and deposited at the general hospital Hadeja.”
The Command commiserated with families of the deceased and prayed for the repose of their souls.
Ijeoma Opara is a journalist with The ICIR. Reach her via [email protected] or @ije_le on Twitter.