Billions of Naira, 53 people burnt to ashes as bullion vans, cars burn in Edo road accident (Photos)

53 persons were feared dead and billions of naira burnt on Thursday at Abudu, Orhionmwon LGA of Edo State, following an accident involving two bullion vans carrying money, a fuel-laden articulated vehicle and some commercial buses.The accident reportedly occurred on the Benin-Asaba expressway Thursday afternoon when one of the bullion vans reportedly had a head-on collision with the fuel tanker and instantly resulted in a fire that immediately spread to another bullion van.
Two commercial buses were said to have further rammed into these vehicles and instantly caught fire as well. The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) confirmed that 53 persons were burnt to death.
It said eight vehicles, including one motorcycle, were involved in the accident. Other vehicles are two commercial Toyota hummer buses, one Dyna truck, one tanker carrying petrol, one ford bus and one Toyota Corolla. .
An eyewitness said security agents and officials of FRSC watched helplessly as the victims burnt to death as there was no fire service station at Abudu town.
The number of human casualties involved in the inferno was yet unknown, but eyewitnesses feared that many lives may have been lost as they claimed that the tanker and the bullion vans went up in flames immediately after impact.

When contacted on phone Thursday Night, Edo State sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), Samuel Odukoya, said bullion vans were at the scene of the accident but they were not caught up in the explosion.