A bullion van loaded with an unspecified amount of money went up in flames on Tuesday, under the Ojota bridge in Lagos.
According to Vanguard, the van which did not have a fire extinguisher was driving towards the old toll gate, apparently to disburse cash to some banks when the fire broke out.
The exact cause of the fire which occurred at about 2.30pm could not be immediately ascertained.
However, an eye witness, Mrs. Moji Maitani, told newsmen: “I was driving home when, all of a sudden, the vehicle directly in front of me veered to another lane. I quickly applied the break to avoid what the motorist attempted to dodge, only to discover that a vehicle was on fire.
“The vehicle on fire happened to be a bullion van. Its occupants rushed out flagging down other motorists and begging for fire extinguisher. But I could not stop, in order not to be caught in the disaster.”
Another eye witness, who asked not to be named, said that the money stacked inside the van was completely burnt as the escorts could not go near the van, owing to the flames.
Managing Director, Lagos State Emergency Management Emergency (LASEMA), Mr. Tiamiyu Adesina, who confirmed the incident, said officials of Lagos State Fire Service arrived the scene to put out the fire.