14 people were killed in an accident involving a commercial bus loaded with 18 passengers and a truck parked along the road in Zabali village, 12 kilometers to Potiskum in Yobe state.
12 of the late passengers were burnt beyond recognition.
Witnesses said the commercial bus driver was coming from Dambam in Bauchi state after passing the night there because of the curfew in Potiskum town but had to take off early to beat the traffic congestion along Potiskum – Damaturu – Maiduguri road.
Confirming the incident to Channels Television in Damaturu, the sector commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Yobe state, Shehu Usman Umar, said the bus ran into a parked truck with registration number XR 01 FKY before bursting into flame.
While attributing the accident to over speeding the sector commander said the accident which occurred around 5:00AM on Wednesday, could also be blamed on negligence on the part of the truck driver as it was parked along the road without any caution sign.
He said of the 14 persons killed, two bodies were deposited at the Potiskum mortuary while the rest were given mass burial at the scene of the accident as they were burnt beyond recognition.
The sector commander commended the role played by the villagers for their timely rescue which saved the lives of four others who are currently at the Potiskum General Hospital for medical attention.
