NIGERIA:An angry mob attacked workers from Nigeria's biggest construction firm in the capital Abuja yesterday after one of its trucks crashed into a commuter bus, killing at least 12 people, police and witnesses said.
The articulated truck, carrying a shipping container converted into a passenger compartment, was taking Julius Berger plc workers to an Abuja suburb when it crashed into the minibus.
"So far, 12 people have been confirmed dead, while 16 others sustained various degrees of injury," Charles Akpabio, Abuja sector commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps, said.
Officials from Julius Berger, a unit of Germany's Bilfinger Berger, were not immediately available to comment.
The rush-hour crash attracted a crowd who blamed the company for the deaths. They hurled stones to chase away Julius Berger employees who came to retrieve the damaged vehicle, before setting it on fire.
Nigerian roads are among the deadliest in the world because of large potholes, poorly-maintained vehicles and dangerous driving.
At least 5,000 people die every year, according to official statistics, although the real figure could be much higher because most crashes in remote villages are not reported.
Most motorists in Africa's top oil producer have never taken driving lessons, as a licence can easily be bought without a test for less than $50 dollars (€32).
At least 18 people, 12 of them school children, died in early July in a minibus crash.
- (Reuters)