Abdullahi Yamadi, the Secretary, North-West Zone of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), has lost 28 relatives in a fatal auto crash that occurred on the Bauchi-Kano federal highway in Bauchi State.

The tragedy which occurred in the early hours of Thursday, according Yamadi who claimed that all the victims were all burnt alive.

He said the victims were on their way to Yola, Adamawa State, when the  incident occurred.

“The victims were traveling to Yola, Adamawa State, for a visit when the unfortunate incident happened.

“You know, after the harvest and at seasons like this, people travel to visit loved ones resident in different places; and that was where they were going to.

“They left Dutsinma, Katsina State, and they had left Jigawa State and were within Bauchi State when their vehicle had a head-on collision with another vehicle.

“They were 29 in the vehicle and all of them died except the driver, who survived.

“This is a very sad news and very pathetic for 28 people from the same family to die in an accident in one day, he said.

The Corp Commander, Bauchi Sector Command, Federal Road Safety Corps, Abdulrazak Najume, involved two vehicles — a Peugeot J5 Bus and a Toyota Hiace Bus.

“The 18-seat Hiace bus had number plate ZRM-91XA, while the number plate of the second vehicle couldn’t be ascertained, as it was burnt beyond recognition,” Najume explained.

He said he led FRSC officials to the scene of the crash at about 6.49am for a rescue operation.

“Yes, the accident is true. The accident occurred at Gubi Gari Village, along Bauchi-Kano highway”, he said.

According to him, “The driver of the Hiace bus was sleeping and he suddenly woke up to see the oncoming vehicle, but he lost control and had a head-on collision with the J5.

“Immediately the crash occurred, the two vehicles caught fire and all of them, including the passengers and the cows, were burnt beyond recognition.

“It was only the driver of the Hiace bus that survived, with serious injuries.

“In all, 28 people — 24 in the Hiace bus and four in the J5 — were burnt beyond recognition.

“We could only identify that four of them were males, while the sexes of the others could not be ascertained because they were burnt beyond recognition,” the FRSC commander narrated.

Najume said the charred bodies and the lone victim who sustained serious injuries had been taken to the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital, Bauchi for medical examination.

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