4 NYSC members, soldier burnt to death in Adamawa road accident

At least six people have been confirmed dead following a tragic road accident along the Yola–Song highway in Adamawa State on Wednesday, involving a military gun truck and a commercial Hummer bus.

The crash reportedly claimed the lives of four members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and a Nigerian Army officer, after the collision triggered a fire that engulfed the vehicles.

Eyewitnesses said the military truck, which was conveying soldiers, was attempting to overtake another vehicle at high speed when it veered into the path of an oncoming bus travelling from Kano to Mubi.

The impact of the collision triggered an immediate inferno that engulfed the bus within seconds. Passengers were reportedly trapped as flames spread rapidly, turning the vehicle into a burning wreck before help could arrive.

While eyewitnesses placed the death toll as high as 10, official confirmation from the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and the police put the figure at six. Authorities said five occupants of the bus were burnt beyond recognition, while one soldier attached to the military vehicle also died, alongside others who sustained fatal injuries.

According to police spokesperson SP Suleiman Nguroje, four of the deceased were NYSC members posted to Adamawa State. He added that investigations were ongoing to determine the exact circumstances of the crash.

The tragedy has once again drawn attention to persistent concerns over reckless driving, unsafe overtaking, and weak compliance with road safety regulations on Nigerian highways. Despite repeated warnings from the FRSC, fatal crashes involving commercial vehicles and heavy-duty trucks continue to occur with alarming frequency.

For families of the victims, the incident has left a painful trail of loss, particularly as young graduates serving the nation were among those who perished in the inferno.

Emergency responders later arrived at the scene to evacuate remains and clear the wreckage, but for many, the damage had already been done.