Eighteen passengers, including the driver and his conductor, narrowly escaped tragedy on Friday when their bus went up in flames in Rivers State.
The incident occurred at the Igwuruta roundabout in Ikwerre Local Government Area. The commercial 18-seater bus was reportedly travelling from Owerri, the Imo State capital, to Port Harcourt when it suddenly caught fire while in motion.
Eyewitnesses said the fire, suspected to have been caused by an electrical fault, broke out without warning, sending the bus into chaos as passengers scrambled to get out.
“It happened so fast. Everyone started jumping out—some through the doors, others through the windows,” a bystander recounted. “There were bruises here and there, but no one died, and that’s what matters most.”
Another witness, Fidelis, confirmed that the fire engulfed the vehicle quickly, destroying both the bus and the goods it was conveying.
“They were just coming from Owerri when the fire started. Luckily, all of them got out on time. The bus was completely burnt, but we thank God no lives were lost,” he said.
The incident caused a major traffic buildup in the area, as motorists tried to avoid the scene. Many stopped at a safe distance to watch helplessly as the fire consumed the bus.
No emergency response teams or fire service personnel were seen at the site as the fire burned itself out.
While the passengers are counting their blessings after escaping with their lives, the total loss of property and delay caused by the incident left a trail of concern on the ever-busy route.
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