Wednesday, February 11, 2026 - Two persons —a commercial bus driver and his passenger—were burnt to death, while eight others sustained injuries after a minibus caught fire along the Okota–Mile 2 corridor in Lagos State.
The incident was confirmed on Tuesday by the spokesperson of
the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, Mr Adebayo Taofiq, who described
it as a “devastating road traffic occurrence.”
Taofiq said the accident involved a yellow commercial
minibus conveying nine passengers, including the driver, when an unidentified
private vehicle allegedly reversed on the main carriageway.
According to him, the sudden manoeuvre forced the minibus,
which was travelling at a considerable speed, to brake abruptly, causing it to
lose control, overturn several times and eventually burst into flames.
“Preliminary findings revealed that an unknown private
vehicle reversed on the main carriageway, compelling the commercial minibus to
apply an abrupt brake. In the course of this perilous convergence, the vehicle
lost control, overturned repeatedly and ultimately went up in flames,” the
statement read.
Further investigations, Taofiq disclosed, revealed that the
driver was conveying a five-litre container of petrol inside the bus, which
ignited immediately after the crash.
“The highly inflammable substance ignited instantly
following the impact, resulting in a severe fire outbreak. Tragically, the
driver and a female passenger seated in front were burnt beyond recognition,”
the agency added.
Taofiq said LASTMA operatives on routine traffic
surveillance responded promptly to the incident and rescued eight passengers
before the fire intensified.
“Through swift and decisive intervention, our operatives
successfully rescued eight passengers from the wreckage and facilitated their
immediate evacuation to a nearby medical facility,” he said.
He added that the accident scene was secured in
collaboration with the Divisional Traffic Officer of the Ilasa Police Division
to prevent secondary crashes and restore traffic flow.
The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service and the Lagos State
Ambulance Service were also deployed to extinguish the fire and manage rescue
operations.
Reacting to the incident, the Special Adviser to the
Governor on Transportation, Mr Sola Giwa, expressed deep sorrow over the loss
of lives and commiserated with the victims’ families.
“On behalf of the Lagos State Government, I express deep
sorrow over this needless loss of life and extend my heartfelt condolences to
the bereaved families. We pray for the speedy and complete recovery of the
eight rescued passengers,” Giwa said.
He also warned motorists against dangerous driving
practices, particularly reversing on highways.
“Motorists, both private and commercial, must exercise
maximum concentration while driving and desist from reversing on highways, as
such reckless practices pose grave risks and can trigger avoidable calamities,”
he added.
LASTMA reiterated its commitment to road safety, urging all
road users to comply strictly with traffic regulations to prevent avoidable
loss of lives.
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