ABUJA, Aug 1 (Reuters) - An angry mob attacked workers from Nigeria's biggest construction firm in the capital Abuja on Friday after one of its trucks crashed into a commuter bus, killing at least 12 people, police and witnesses said.

The articulated truck, carrying a shipping container converted into a passenger compartment, was taking workers from Julius Berger <JUBR.LG> to an Abuja suburb when it crashed into the minibus.

"So far, 12 people have been confirmed dead, while 16 others sustained various degrees of injury," Charles Akpabio, Abuja sector commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps, told Reuters.

Officials from Julius Berger, a unit of Germany's Bilfinger Berger <GBFG.DE>, were not immediately available to comment.

The rush-hour crash attracted a crowd who blamed the company for the deaths. They hurled stones to chase away Julius Berger employees who came to retrieve the damaged vehicle, before setting it on fire.

Nigerian roads are among the deadliest in the world because of large potholes, poorly maintained vehicles and dangerous driving. At least 5,000 people die every year, according to official statistics, although the real figure could be much higher because most crashes in remote villages are not reported.

Most motorists in Africa's top oil producer have never taken driving lessons, as a licence can easily be bought without a test for less than $50 dollars.

At least 18 people, 12 of them school children, died in early July when the minibus they were travelling in crashed on a busy highway in southern Delta state.

About 45 soldiers who had returned from peacekeeping duties in Sudan's Darfur region were killed in May when a fuel-laden truck hit their military convoy in northeastern Nigeria.

(For full Reuters Africa coverage and to have your say on the top issues, visit: http://africa.reuters.com/ ) (Reporting by Camillus Eboh; writing by Tume Ahemba; editing by Nick Tattersall)

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