Players of Lobi Stars FC narrowly escaped death when the team bus conveying them back to their base burst into flames on Monday night.

The team were on their way back to their Benue State base from Ilorin where they defeated Kwara United in a matchday 22 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) fixture on Sunday.

They were reportedly less than 5 kilometres from Makurdi when the bus suddenly went up in flames with the players inside. The cause of the fire is yet to be determined at the time of this report.

There were no reports of any casualties at the time of filing this report although people familiar with the incident say the players lost their personal belongings in the fire and several players reportedly sustained bruises in an attempt to escape the burning bus.

A video that has been widely shared on social media showed the bus on an unidentified stretch of road completely engulfed in flames with players and staff heard in the background thanking God for sparing their lives.

“Look at our car, look at Lobi Stars car catching fire, God thank you for saving us,” the voice behind the video who identified himself as Musa Tinajare exclaimed.

The club is yet to issue a statement on the matter.

The incident is the latest in a string of hazardous and life-threatening situations players in the domestic league face regularly while navigating between match venues.

Last November, several FC Ifeanyi Ubah players sustained severe injuries in an attack by armed robbers while making their way to Kano for a Matchday 6 encounter against Jigawa Golden Stars.

In March 2015, the BBC reported five players from Kano Pillars were wounded by gunmen on their way to Owerri for their opening game.

Lobi Stars who are coached by Gbenga Ogunbote are mounting a serious challenge for the title and occupy 3rd-place in the log with 39 points after 22 games.

They are level on points with second-placed Rivers United who have a superior goals difference and are just a point off league leaders Plateau United.