Tragedy struck along the Okota–Mile 2 corridor in Lagos on Tuesday, February 10, after a commercial minibus went up in flames, leaving the driver and a female passenger dead and eight others injured.
The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) confirmed the incident in a statement issued by its spokesperson, Adebayo Taofiq. According to the agency, the yellow commercial bus was conveying nine passengers, including the driver, when the crash occurred.
Preliminary investigations indicate that an unidentified private vehicle allegedly reversed on the main carriageway, forcing the minibus, which was reportedly travelling at high speed, to apply a sudden brake. The abrupt manoeuvre caused the vehicle to lose control, somersault multiple times and eventually burst into flames.
Taofiq explained that further findings revealed the driver was transporting a five-litre container of petrol inside the vehicle. The highly flammable substance ignited immediately after impact, triggering a severe fire outbreak.
The driver and a female passenger seated in the front of the bus were trapped in the blaze and died at the scene.
LASTMA officials on routine patrol reportedly arrived promptly and rescued eight other passengers before the fire intensified. The injured victims were subsequently evacuated to a nearby medical facility for treatment.
Authorities said investigations into the circumstances surrounding the incident are ongoing.