Kwara: One Killed, 20 Injured As Bus Somersaults, Catches Fire

A lone road accident involving a commercial passenger bus along the Ilorin-Jebba Expressway on Sunday claimed the life of one person and left 20 others injured.

LEADERSHIP gathered that the accident occurred around Oko-Olowo, Iye-Maja Junction, along the Ilorin section of the expressway.

The commercial bus, with registration number DTH 840 SA, was reportedly conveying 21 passengers when it suffered a tyre puncture, somersaulted and subsequently caught fire.

The spokesperson of the Kwara State Fire Service, Hassan Adekunle, confirmed the accident and the casualty figures.

He said one person died in the accident, while 20 others sustained varying degrees of injuries.

“Upon arrival, our firefighters immediately commenced emergency operations. The passengers were evacuated from the vehicle, with those who sustained injuries taken to the hospital for medical attention. Sadly, one person was confirmed deceased in the incident,” Adekunle said.

The Chief Fire Officer, Alabi Muhammed, commiserated with the deceased’s family and urged motorists, particularly commercial vehicle operators, to ensure their vehicles are properly maintained and roadworthy before embarking on journeys.

He emphasised the importance of regular inspections of tyres, braking systems, electrical components, and other critical vehicle parts, noting that early detection of faults could help prevent serious road emergencies.

Muhammed also urged motorists to exercise caution on the highways and promptly report emergencies to the appropriate response agencies.