Students of Kwara State University (KWASU) narrowly escaped a potentially fatal incident on Wednesday when their 18-seater bus burst into flames in Ilorin, the state capital.
The incident occurred around 7:54 AM as the students were traveling from Bovas filling station along Akerebiata axis on Ilorin-Sobi road to the university's main campus in Malete. The bus, with registration number XUF134ZD, was completely destroyed in the fire.
According to Hassan Adekunle, spokesperson for the Kwara State Fire Service, emergency responders swiftly attended to the distress call regarding the vehicle fire along Shao Road, near Sobi Barracks.
"The fire crew responded swiftly and successfully extinguished the fire. Regrettably, the vehicle was completely consumed by the flames, with all parts severely damaged," Adekunle stated.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the fire originated from a spark in the engine compartment, which rapidly escalated and engulfed the entire vehicle. Fortunately, all students aboard the bus managed to escape unharmed.
Prince Falade John Olumuyiwa, Director of the state fire service, expressed his heartfelt sympathy to the bus owner while advising all road users to conduct routine vehicle checks before embarking on any journey as a precautionary measure against such incidents.
This incident highlights the importance of regular vehicle maintenance, especially for transportation services carrying students and other passengers daily.
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