By Ayomide Otitoju
The driver and conductor of a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) vehicle have fled the scene, leaving passengers stranded as the bus caught fire in Maryland, Lagos State, on Saturday morning.
According to eyewitness accounts, the incident occurred when the bus, traveling from Ikorodu to CMS, began emitting smoke from the driver’s side. Initially mistaken for smoke from other vehicles, the situation quickly escalated, causing panic among the passengers.
One passenger shared that the growing smoke prompted them to evacuate the bus before the fire ignited fully. Fortunately, no injuries were reported.
“The driver and conductor ran away as soon as the fire started. They didn’t even wait to see what would happen to us,” said the passenger, accusing the crew of knowingly putting the passengers at risk by operating a faulty bus.
Authorities, including the Nigeria Police Force, Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), and the fire service, were quickly on the scene to contain the blaze. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
