Tragedy struck at the weekend when seven people, including a pregnant woman and a baby, were roasted to death along Lagos/Ibadan expressway.

According to the report, five officials of Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency, TRACE, and an unspecified number of traffic police were also injured by hoodlums at Kara end of the expressway.

It was gathered that the accident, which involved an 18-seat bus, occurred around 3.30pm as the bus, which took off in Lagos, reportedly went up flames.

The commercial bus painted in white colour, with blue stripes suddenly developed leakages on the fuel tank, which spilled its contents, reports stated.

Investigation revealed that prior to the moment the vehicle caught fire, one of the passengers in the vehicle was said to have noticed a spark from the engine and raised the alarm which made the driver to stop abruptly in order to check the cause of the incident.

It was gathered that the passengers could not get out of the bus in time as soon as the vehicle stopped because the fire had made the vehicle’s door to jam.

It was gathered that before the fire fighters in Ogun State arrived the scene the situation has worsened.

As a result, seven of the passengers, including a pregnant woman and a baby, were burnt beyond recognition while eleven others sustained varying degrees of injuries.

Meanwhile, some TRACE officials were said to have rushed to the scene but were prevented from rendering any assistance as hoodlums descended on them, venting their anger.

It was gathered that it took the intervention of the Rapid Response Squad, RRS, in Lagos and Quick Response Squad from Mowe axis, before the situation was put under control.

Confirming the development, TRACE Public Relations Officer Babatunde Akinbiyi, stated that their officials had arrived the scene of the incident as soon as they received a distress call but lamented that the miscreants threw caution to the wind, causing further damage on the every busy expressway.

The Lagos-Ibadan Expressway has been notorious for road accident lately.

It could be recalled that the convoy of Governor of Ogun State, Senator Ibikunle Amosun was also reported to be involved in an accident along the expressway some weeks ago.