Lagos, Nigeria - At least 20 persons died while seven others were injured and are in critical condition after a truck rammed into a commercial bus in which they were travelling along the Kaduna-Kano highway in northern Nigeria, the local press reported Friday.

The accident occurred at 6 a.m. local time on Thursday near Gaida village, when the truck that was loaded with sheep ran into the bus that was coming from Onitsha in the South-east and heading to northern Jigawa State.

Eyewitnesses said 10 of those who died were burnt beyond recognition, as the bus caught fire on impact.

They blamed the accident on excessive speeding by the truck driver, who lost control of his vehicle and crossed over to the opposite lane to hit the bus, packed full with artisans travelling home for the holidays.

Spokesman for the northern Kaduna state police command, Aminu Lawal, said the driver of the truck had been arrested and detained.

Pana 30/12/2011