Chaos on the Road: Driver, Conductor Flee as BRT Bus Catches Fire in Maryland, Lagos

 

What began as an ordinary Saturday morning commute turned into a frightening ordeal for passengers aboard a BRT bus in Lagos, after the vehicle caught fire in the Maryland area. The incident, which occurred in the early hours of Saturday, led to a scene of panic and confusion as the bus suddenly began to emit smoke — and in a shocking turn of events, both the driver and conductor allegedly abandoned the passengers to their fate.

According to eyewitnesses, the bus had departed from Ikorodu and was en route to CMS, a routine journey along one of Lagos’ major commuter corridors. However, the trip took a disturbing turn as it reached Maryland. Passengers first noticed a faint wisp of smoke curling from the driver’s section of the bus. Initially, many dismissed it as fumes from another vehicle. But the smoke intensified within moments, spiraling into a much more dangerous blaze.

A female passenger who spoke to our correspondent recounted the terrifying experience, emphasizing the speed at which the situation escalated.

“We just saw small smoke at first, and we even thought it was from outside. Then suddenly, it increased. People started shouting. We all rushed to get down,” she said, still visibly shaken.

She further alleged that neither the driver nor the conductor made any attempt to help the passengers or even raise an alarm. Instead, both men reportedly bolted from the scene as soon as the smoke thickened, leaving commuters to scramble for their safety.

“The driver and conductor just ran away. They didn’t wait, didn’t check if we were okay, nothing. I strongly believe they already knew the bus was faulty before putting it on the road,” she stated, a claim that raises serious concerns about the maintenance standards of the BRT fleet and the accountability of its operators.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation, but early speculation from onlookers suggests an electrical fault or overheating engine may be responsible. The quick-thinking passengers, however, managed to disembark before the fire engulfed the vehicle, avoiding what could have been a tragic outcome.

Remarkably, no injuries were reported in the incident. The timely arrival of emergency response units — including officials from the Nigeria Police Force, the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), fire service units, and local security agents — helped in containing the fire and restoring order to the busy expressway.

By the time firefighters got the blaze under control, the bus was already severely damaged. Thick black smoke hung in the air as authorities cordoned off the scene, diverting traffic to ease congestion.

While authorities have yet to confirm the identity or whereabouts of the driver and conductor, public outrage continues to mount. Many are calling for an immediate investigation into the condition of the bus before the incident, and whether due diligence was carried out before it was cleared for operation that morning.

“This could have been a disaster. We thank God no one died, but that doesn’t excuse the recklessness,” said another eyewitness, who described the event as “a ticking time bomb waiting to happen.”

As Lagos continues to depend heavily on its BRT system for daily commutes, Saturday’s incident serves as a chilling reminder of the vulnerabilities within the public transport sector. Calls for stricter vehicle inspections, accountability mechanisms for operators, and better emergency preparedness are now louder than ever.

Authorities are yet to issue an official statement, but investigations are reportedly underway.