One person was killed while several others sustained injuries when a commercial bus conveying 21 passengers somersaulted and caught fire along the Oko-Olowo Expressway in Ilorin, Kwara State.
The accident occurred around Iye-Maja Junction on Sunday after the bus, with registration number DTH840SA, reportedly suffered a tyre puncture while in motion, causing the driver to lose control.
The spokesperson for the Kwara State Fire Service, Hassan Adekunle, confirmed the incident in a statement on Monday.
Adekunle said the agency received a distress call and immediately deployed firefighters to the scene, where they arrived at about 6:35pm and began rescue and firefighting operations.
He said the passengers were evacuated from the vehicle, while those who sustained injuries were taken to the hospital for medical attention.
The Fire Service confirmed that one person died in the crash.
The Chief Fire Officer, Alabi Muhammed, commiserated with the family of the deceased and wished the injured passengers a speedy recovery.
Muhammed urged motorists, particularly commercial vehicle operators, to ensure their vehicles were properly maintained and roadworthy before embarking on journeys.
He also advised motorists to regularly inspect critical components, including tyres, braking systems and electrical parts, to reduce the risk of avoidable accidents.
“The importance of regular inspection of tyres, braking systems, electrical components and other critical parts of vehicles cannot be overemphasised,” he said.
The chief fire officer added that early detection of vehicle faults could prevent serious road emergencies, while urging motorists to exercise caution on the highways.
He further called on members of the public to promptly report emergencies to the appropriate response agencies.
The Kwara State Fire Service said it remained committed to responding promptly to emergencies and protecting lives and property across the state.