A tragic bus fire has claimed the lives of four people, including three children, in Gwaram Local Government Area of Jigawa State.
The devastating blaze broke out around 4 p.m. when a Hummer bus, packed with 44 passengers, caught fire near Government Girls Unity Secondary School.
According to the Jigawa State Police Command, the fire was triggered when a mattress tied to the back of the bus came into contact with the exhaust pipe, igniting a fast-spreading inferno.
Police spokesperson, SP Lawan Shiisu, confirmed the heart-wrenching details, revealing that the flames tragically consumed four victims— a 40-year-old woman and three children, aged five, three, and ten— leaving them unrecognizable.
As panic gripped the bus, ten other passengers suffered varying degrees of injuries and were rushed to Gwaram Cottage Hospital for urgent medical attention. Fortunately, the remaining passengers managed to escape the blaze unscathed. The bodies of the deceased have been handed over to their families for burial in accordance with Islamic customs.
Survivor Mallam Musa Adamu recalled the terrifying moments as the fire spread rapidly. “The flames spread so quickly, there was hardly any time to escape. People were screaming for help, but the fire consumed the bus within minutes,” he said, still shaken by the horrifying ordeal.
In the aftermath of the disaster, the Jigawa State Police Command issued a stern warning to all motorists, especially commercial drivers, urging them to prioritize safety at all times. “We strongly advise drivers to avoid overloading, excessive speeding, and ensure proper vehicle maintenance before setting out on any journey,” SP Shiisu cautioned.
The Jigawa State Government has expressed its deepest condolences to the grieving families and vowed to reinforce road safety measures to prevent such a tragedy from happening again.
As the community mourns the loss of innocent lives, the authorities are determined to take swift action, ensuring that safety regulations are upheld to protect future passengers from such devastating accidents.
