Panic gripped motorists and residents along the Okota–Mile 2 corridor in Lagos when a commercial minibus somersaulted and burst into flames, killing the driver and a female passenger who were trapped in front. Their bodies were burnt beyond recognition as the inferno engulfed the vehicle within minutes.

The yellow commercial minibus, popularly known as “danfo,” was conveying nine occupants, including the driver, when the crash occurred on the busy carriageway. According to the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority LASTMA, the tragedy was triggered by the reckless action of an unidentified private motorist who allegedly reversed suddenly on the main road.

LASTMA spokesperson Adebayo Taofiq explained that the abrupt and unlawful reversal forced the oncoming minibus, which was travelling at speed, to brake sharply in a desperate attempt to avoid a collision. The driver lost control, and the vehicle reportedly overturned several times before coming to rest and erupting in flames.

Preliminary investigations further revealed a deadly aggravating factor: the bus driver was transporting a five-litre container of petrol inside the passenger compartment. The impact of the crash caused the highly inflammable fuel to ignite almost instantly, turning the overturned bus into a fireball.

The resulting blaze left the driver and the woman seated beside him with no chance of escape. Both were consumed by the fire before emergency responders could reach them. Their remains were later recovered from the charred wreckage.

Taofiq said LASTMA officers on routine patrol arrived quickly at the scene and managed to pull out eight other passengers before the flames intensified. The survivors, who sustained varying degrees of burns and other injuries, were rushed to a nearby hospital for urgent medical attention.

Eyewitnesses described scenes of chaos as passersby and other motorists initially attempted to help, but were driven back by the heat and thick smoke. Traffic along the route was brought to a standstill as emergency teams battled the fire and cleared the wreckage.

The incident has renewed concerns over dangerous driving practices on Lagos roads, particularly illegal reversing on highways and the widespread habit of transporting petrol in containers inside commercial vehicles, a practice safety officials have repeatedly warned against.