The family of Pastor Abraham Samuel of the PotterPorchChurch, Minna and 8 other passengers who were said to be travelling from Lagos to Minna have perished in a bus misharp.

Another tragedy has occured in Niger State bringing to an abrupt the lives of not less than eight persons including a Pastor’s wife, Pastor (Mrs) Hellen Samuel, her three children, Saviour, Ensigne and Purity. The incidence was reported to have taken place in Katagbegi village of Niger State. we learned that a bus owned by the Niger State Transport Authority which they boarded, ran into a truck at a bad spot along Bida-Minna road. The family of Pastor Abraham Samuel of the PotterPorchChurch, Minna and the other passengers in the bus were said to be travelling from Lagos to Minna when the crash occured at about 8pm, Saturday night. The bus, according to eyewitness, was said to have caught fire shortly after the accident, thereby making rescue efforts difficult. It was, however, gathered that only one passenger was rescued alive with serious burns. Special Adviser to the Niger State Government on Emergency and Disaster Management, Mohammed Shaba, confirmed that the eight bodies had been recovered from the scene of the accident, even though the bus was believed to be carrying 18 passengers at the time of the accident. Shaba said corpses of the deceased had been deposited at the Minna GeneralHospital. The passengers were said to have been burnt in the vehicle because the local people that rushed for the rescue efforts lacked the capacity to curtail the fire. Our correspondent who went to the church met the Pastor preaching during yesterdy’s church service after which he announced the demise of his wife and three children. Members of the church screamed at the news but the Pastor remained calm with elders of the church around him. According to Pastor Samuel who, however, maintained sober mood “My wife and the kids are resting.”