No fewer than three female passengers were confirmed dead while 13 others sustained injuries after a commercial bus was gutted by fire in Kano State on Tuesday.

The Kano State Fire Service spokesperson, Saminu Abdullahi, who disclosed this via a statement, said the commercial vehicle, a Toyota Hiace bus with registration number XE 222 TRN, was gutted by fire around the Government Technical College in Nassarawa Local Government Area of Kano State.

Abdullahi said the incident occurred while the bus, coming from Ajingi LGA to Kofar Wambai, was engulfed in fire.

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He noted that fire personnel and officers of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) successfully put out the fire and successfully rescued most of the victims.

Abdullahi, who said three women in the bus were burnt beyond recognition, gave name of two victims as Surayya Umar and Zeenai Babaji.

The Fire Service spokesman said the remaining 13 victims, who sustained various degrees of injury, were taken to the Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital in Kano for treatment.

He said that the 65-year-old driver, Muhammed Gali, and his 30-year-old bus conductor, Hassan Danladi, were also rescued without any injury and handed over to the police.

Abdullahi, who attributed the cause of the accident to speed limit violation and a burst rear tyre, implored motorists to drive with caution.

The Star