Former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and chieftain of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, has lost five dear ones in a car accident along Abuja express road.

Sources say the accident happened in the wee hours of today and was caused by a trailer that had a head-on collision with a Siena bus.

The victims were Ibrahim El-Rufai, his nephew Lawal and three of their friends.

Funeral prayer for the deceased was conducted by Sheikh Ahmed Gummi around 4pm at Sultan Bello Mosque in Kaduna with thousands of sympathisers in attendance. They were later buried at the Ungwan Sarki Cemetery.

Caretaker chairman of APC, Kaduna State, Dr. Hakeem Baba Ahmed, and Senator Sani Saleh were among dignitaries at the occasion.

A heartbroken Nasir El-Rufai has been lamenting his heavy loss while however submitting to the will of Allah. Below are some of his intermittent comments on social media:

“It is sad when one’s younger sibling pre-deceased one. I was Ibrahim’s big brother and protector from bullies. He died today. Allahu Akbar.”

“My nephew Lawal was a baby I had nursed. He was my sister’s eldest son. The motor accident took his life, Ibrahim’s and three others today.”

Responding to the outpouring of condolences, the former minister wrote: “On behalf of the El-Rufai family, I thank all of you for the support, sympathies and prayers. May Almighty God accept our prayers, Amen.

“Ibrahim was my immediate kid brother, and until recently worked with First Bank of Nigeria. He is survived by our mother, his siblings, wives and children. Our nephew Lawal Sani Gwandu was younger, married and survived by his wife and children too. Their three other friends that died in the vehicle accident I did not know very well. May Aljannah Firdaus be their final abode, Amen.”

•Photo shows bereaved Nasir El-Rufai.