By Esther Onyegbula

Three people, allegedly involved in oil bunkering, died yesterday morning when their bus, laden with jerry cans of fuel, ran into a stationary truck and caught fire.

It was learned that the accident occurred when the driver of the bus, with number plates ATU418XK, lost control. The lone survivor, who was badly burnt, is receiving treatment at Isolo General Hospital.

An eyewitness said the bus caught fire at Nusuratu Azeez Street, Isolo, at about 4.30a.m.

The eyewitness said: “The bus was coming from Ikorodu, but had brake failure along James Oni Street. The driver tried to swerve to the other side and the vehicle ran into the gutter, spilling the contents of the jerry cans which resulted in the  fire.”

A resident, one Musiratu Lasisi, said: “I was sleeping at the top of the building because of heat when I heard a very loud noise like bomb explosion. So I looked down and saw fire.

“I woke up others and told them that something was wrong and that there was fire. I then went down and removed my motorcycle and that was when I saw one man sitting by the pavement of Kembos School.

“He was screaming for help, but no one could near him because the fire was much. He came out from the passenger seat and eventually died.

“The driver also came out of the bus from the other side. He was rescued by worshippers from a Celestial Church of Christ close by and taken to Isolo General Hospital.

“The bus had about 15 jerry cans 50 litres and all of them contained petrol. It is likely they were involved in petroleum bunkering in Ikorodu area, because there were very few seats in the bus.”

Another eyewitness, Deji Ogunleye, said: “It was one of my church members, Kayode, who rescued the driver of the bus,” adding that it was the rescued driver that told them that they were coming from Imota area of Ikorodu.