Close Call For Lobi Stars Players As Team Bus Catches Fire

Lobi Stars players and staff escaped death narrowly after their team bus burst into flames en route to Makurdi in the wee hours of Tuesday.

The bus caught fire before Adaka Village on Naka Road as the club was travelling from Ilorin Kwara State where the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) giants achieved a 1-0 victory from Kwara United.

The players became concerned when the bus started emitting smoke from the engine.

As they scrambled to disembark, the smoke then turned into a fire, engulfing the bus.

In a statement, the club says the bus developed a mechanical problem.

“The unfortunate incidence is said to have occurred as a result of an auto electrical fault that sparked up the fire and the vehicle went up in flames, all attempts to quell the uncontrollable fire proved abortive,” said the club media officer Austin Tyowua.

“Though no life was lost to the glory of God, there was colossal losses in property as all the contents of the vehicle were burnt.

“The players that sustained injuries in the course of trying to escape through unconventional exits are receiving medical attention.”

Police patrolling the highway acted quickly to evacuate the visibly shaken players from the scene of the accident.

Lobi Stars goalkeeper Daniel Atsaka said the fire spread so fast that they did not have a chance to save any of their belongings.

The wreckage was towed to the nearby police station.