Nine passengers were burnt beyond recognition after fire gutted a Lagos-bound commercial bus on Warewa Long Bridge on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Ogun State on Saturday.

PUNCH Metro learnt that nine others sustained injuries in the accident which occurred around 4pm.

Although police sources said six persons had lost their lives, the Federal Road Safety Corps said nine passengers were killed.

It was learnt that the yellow Mazda bus was filled to capacity when the accident occurred.

The sector commander, FRSC, Chidi Nkwonta, told PUNCH Metro that the cause of the accident had yet to be ascertained but investigations were ongoing. Nkwonta said the bus was heading from the Ibafo area of Ogun State.

He said, “The accident was a lone crash. According to first-hand information, the bus was coming from Ibafo in Ogun State and heading to Ketu in Lagos when the accident occurred. Nine people were injured while nine were burnt beyond recognition.

“The injured persons have been rushed to the Accident and Emergency Centre, Ojota. Investigations are ongoing.”

It was learnt that the accident caused traffic congestion for several hours as traffic and rescue officials cordoned off the affected portion of the road to evacuate the vehicle.

A police source told our correspondent that six burnt corpses had been conveyed to the Sagamu General Hospital Mortuary.

It was, however, learnt that family members of the deceased persons had yet to be notified about the corpses.

“The corpses as well as items one could have used in identifying the corpses were burnt. So, we are stuck. People should feel free to walk into the mortuary and check for missing loved ones,” a police source said.

Meanwhile, four people lost their lives in the Epe area of Lagos State on Saturday following a head-on collision between two vehicles. A woman was also said to have sustained injuries.

Nkwonta said, “Four men lost their lives in another accident between Ajah and Epe following a head-on collision around 2.59pm on Saturday between a Jeep and an Opel Vectra car.”

-Punch