Fire Truck Accident Claims Lives of Three Children of Former AUN Provost in Abuja
Tragedy struck in Abuja on Friday night, May 9, 2025, as three children of Professor Yusuf Attahir Baba, a former provost of the American University of Nigeria (AUN), lost their lives in a collision involving a fire service truck and a private car.
The fatal accident occurred around 10:47 p.m. at the Al-Noor junction in Wuse II and involved a Toyota Camry with registration number GWA 626 BS and an unmarked fire truck belonging to the Federal Fire Service.
According to eyewitnesses, the fire truck was reportedly rushing to refill water in response to an emergency when the crash occurred. Conflicting accounts emerged, with some witnesses alleging the fire truck hit the car, while official reports claim the car rammed into the fire truck.
A viral video from the scene showed passersby attempting to rescue the victims, while some were seen recording the tragedy. One of the four occupants was reportedly trapped in the wreckage for hours without adequate emergency response tools. Eyewitnesses also alleged that police and medical help arrived late, and the victim eventually died from his injuries.
Deputy Director of the Fire Service National Information Unit, Abdul Alhaji Ashafa, confirmed that the fire truck involved was from the Federal Secretariat and en route to a fire incident. He said three of the four occupants in the car died, while one sustained serious injuries and is currently receiving treatment.
The victims were taken to a hospital where, according to witnesses, they were not promptly attended to due to the absence of a trauma response system. Their bodies were later claimed by the family and buried on Saturday at the Muslim Cemetery in Abuja.
A relative described the incident as devastating, expressing heartbreak over the loss while acknowledging it as an act of God. The Federal Fire Service has since launched an investigation into the accident, and top officials, including the Federal Comptroller of Fire and the FCT Sector Commander, have visited the bereaved family to offer condolences.
