By Nkechi Eze
Tragedy struck on the Kubwa–Suleja expressway late Wednesday night as a Peugeot J5 bus burst into flames following a collision with a heavy-duty vehicle, leaving one person dead and two others rescued by emergency responders.
The incident, which occurred around 9:21 p.m. directly opposite Niger Barracks, drew a swift multi-agency response led by the Federal Capital Territory Emergency Management Department (FEMD). According to a statement signed by the agency’s spokesperson, Nkechi Isa, the Head of Operations, Search and Rescue, Mr. Monday Adie, confirmed that the driver of the ill-fated Peugeot J5 bus suffered fatal injuries due to severe burns and was pronounced dead at the scene.
The vehicle, reportedly loaded with bags of groundnuts, rammed into the truck in front of it and immediately went up in flames, trapping its occupants inside. Two individuals were rescued from the burning vehicle in a high-risk operation that stretched into the early hours of Thursday, ending at approximately 1:30 a.m.
While one of the rescued victims was taken to the Asokoro General Hospital for treatment, he was later discharged on the request of his family. The charred remains of the deceased have been handed over to his relatives for burial.
The FCT Fire Service, personnel of the Nigerian Army, and officers of the FCT Police Command all participated in the prolonged rescue and firefighting efforts.
Reacting to the fatal accident, the Acting Director General of FEMD, Engineer Abdulrahman Mohammed, extended condolences to the family of the deceased and issued a fresh appeal to motorists to exercise caution and ensure their vehicles are in proper working condition before hitting the road.
He emphasized the critical importance of preventive measures, particularly during night travel, and urged FCT residents to take advantage of the toll-free 112 emergency number to report incidents promptly.
“This tragic incident reminds us of the dangers of road travel, especially when vehicles are not roadworthy or proper caution is not exercised,” Engr. Abdulrahman stated. “We appeal to the public to cooperate with emergency agencies and always be proactive about safety.”
