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A tragic bus fire has claimed the lives of four people, including three children, in Gwaram Local Government Area of Jigawa State.
The incident occurred at approximately 4 p.m. on Saturday when a Hummer bus carrying 44 passengers went up in flames near Government Girls Unity Secondary School.
According to the Jigawa State Police Command, the fire erupted after a mattress tied to the back of the bus came into contact with the exhaust pipe, igniting a deadly blaze.
Police spokesperson, SP Lawan Shiisu, confirmed the details of the incident, stating, “The fire started when the mattress caught fire from the vehicle’s exhaust. Unfortunately, four victims, including a 40-year-old woman and three children aged five, three, and ten, were burnt beyond recognition.”
Ten other passengers sustained varying degrees of injuries and were rushed to Gwaram Cottage Hospital for medical treatment.
The remaining passengers were safely evacuated. The remains of the deceased have since been handed over to their families for burial in accordance with Islamic rites.
A survivor of the incident, Mallam Musa Adamu, recounted the horror. “The fire spread so fast that there was little time to escape. People were shouting for help, but the flames engulfed the bus within minutes,” he said.
In response to the tragedy, the Jigawa State Police Command has issued a strong warning to motorists, particularly commercial drivers, urging them to prioritize safety measures. “We strongly advise drivers to avoid overloading, excessive speeding, and ensure proper vehicle maintenance before embarking on journeys,” SP Shiisu emphasized.
Meanwhile, the Jigawa State Government has expressed its condolences to the families of the deceased and assured the public of renewed efforts to enforce road safety regulations to prevent future occurrences.
