22 killed in road accident in Nigeria

Abuja : At least 22 people were burnt to death in Nigeria Wednesday when the vehicle they were travelling in crashed and caught fire in Takai town of northwestern Kano state, Xinhua reported.

The accident took place around 12:30 p.m., an eyewitness was quoted as saying. He added that nine people have sustained injuries and are receiving treatment at a hospital in Takai.

The vehicle, an old model Ford, was carrying 34 people and bags of foodstuffs. The vehicle was traveling from Magami village when it somersaulted and burst into flames, the eyewitness added.

He said 17 of the victims were women while others were children and men. “Only the driver and one other passenger escaped unhurt,” he said.

Garba Ibrahim, sector commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps, confirmed the number of deaths and those taken to the hospital.

Road accidents are common on the poorly maintained roads in this oil-rich west African country.