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Federal Road Safety Corps, has said that nineteen persons were burnt beyond recognition while eight others were injured in the auto crash in the Federal Capital Territory FCT, Abuja.
Acting Corps Marshal of the Federal
Road Safety Corps, Dauda Biu, confirming the incident said bodies of the deceased could not be preserved for identification as they were burnt beyond recognition in an auto accident.
According to him nineteen persons were burnt beyond recognition while eight others were injured in the auto crash at Yangoji-Gwagwalada Road in Abuja on Sunday.
He confirmed the figures when he visited the accident scene and re-emphasised that the Corps would step up both sensitisation of the motoring public and enhance its patrol activities to deter traffic violators.
Stressing that the crash which occurred on Sunday involved three vehicles – two Toyota Hiace buses with registration numbers MUB- 30 LG and DWR-985 XJ and an articulated vehicle.
Specifically, he said 31 persons were involved in the accident comprising 11 males, one female and 19 others who were charred beyond recognition.
“Out of the 31 victims, eight persons comprising of seven males and one female sustained various degrees of injuries, while 19 others were burnt beyond recognition.
“Investigation showed that the main causes of the crash were speed limit violation and wrongful overtaking which eventually resulted in loss of control,’’ he said.
Furthermore he said the Toyota Hiace bus with Registration Number MUB- 30 LG, crashed into the Citroen articulated vehicle and burst into flames, killing everyone on board.
“The second bus hit the first bus from behind and also caught fire. The fire melted the second bus with Bauchi State number plate.
It was coming from Takai, Kano State while heading to Benin. The Citroen vehicle loaded chicken feeds from Zaria in Kaduna State and was heading to Akwa Ibom.
The nineteen corpses were trapped but extricated by rescue operatives,”
Adding that police had taken over the investigation and met with relevant authorities for the mass burial of 18 of the mutilated corpses.
The bodies could not be preserved for identification as they were burnt beyond recognition, he said.
“Clearing of obstructions for free flow of traffic is still ongoing as you can see and we will do our best to ensure we have a crash-free society.”
“Injured victims were taken to a nearby hospital in Kwali in the FCT and one identified male corpse was deposited at the mortuary at Kwali General Hospital,’’ he said.
He cautioned road users to always avoid excessive speeding, wrongful overtaking and other bad driving behaviours.
And also admonished commuters to always plan their trips to fall within the day time and avoid night trips because of hazards associated with dark hours.
He admonished the public to always call the FRSC toll-free line 122 and the National Traffic Radio 107.1 FM which were always available for all road users to report emergencies at any given time.
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