By Patrick Idowu
Four passengers narrowly escaped death on Monday night when their commercial vehicle caught fire opposite the Niger Barracks in Abuja.
The vehicle, a Volkswagen Golf, was reportedly in motion when it was suddenly engulfed by flames.
Eyewitnesses at the scene suggested the blaze was likely triggered by a mechanical fault, specifically a spark originating from the car’s battery.
Amos, a dispatch rider who witnessed the incident, confirmed that the fire started while the vehicle was moving but noted that all occupants managed to exit safely.
“The fire started most likely with a spark from the battery,” he stated, adding that despite the intensity of the fire, no lives were lost in the outbreak.
Shocked commuters watched the vehicle burn to a shell, noting the absence of the car owner during the peak of the inferno.
At the time of filing this report, neither the fire service nor military officials from the nearby barracks had arrived at the scene to manage the situation.
