At least 30 people were burnt to death when a fully laden road tanker overturned and caught fire on a busy highway, Nigerian police said on Monday.
The truck was conveying fuel from the commercial capital, Lagos, to the northern part of Africa’s most populous nation when it crashed and spilled its contents in the south-western Ogun state late on Sunday.
The fire engulfed three commuter buses and four cars, roasting the occupants.
”We have retrieved the bodies of 30 people, but the fire is still burning and more bodies may still be trapped in there,” said a spokesperson for the Federal Road Safety Corporation.
Nigerian roads are among the deadliest in the world because of potholes, poorly maintained vehicles and dangerous driving. Most Nigerian motorists have never taken driving lessons because a licence can easily be obtained for less than $50.
At least 5 000 Nigerians die in road accidents every year. — Reuters