An early tanker explosion along Felele-Nataco axis of Abuja/Lokoja Road has claimed 23 lives, according to the account of the Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, Kogi State Command.
The accident involved a tanker loaded with petroleum product, a school bus, cars, tricycles and motorcycles.
Mr Isris Ali, the Kogi State Sector Commander of FRSC confirmed there number of fatalities on Wednesday.
He said the victims include ten adult male, six female adult, three female children and four other children burnt beyond recognition.
Ali, however, said one child escaped death with injury, adding that ten vehicles including five cars, one taker, three tricycles and two motorcycles were involved in the accident.
He added that eleven of the corpses have already been claimed by their relatives while the rest have been deposited in the morgue at the Kogi State Specialist hospital, Lokoja.
Eyewitness account told Fedredsnews that the break of the tanker, laden with petroleum products failed at Felele and rammed into the vehicles in its front causing the fatal accident.
A whole family of six who were said to have been caught in the inferno all died before help could come their way.
The Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello has expressed shock over the unfortunate fatal tanker explosion which took place in the early hours of Wednesday 23, September, around the Felele area of Lokoja metropolis.
In a statement by Onogwu Muhammed, Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, the Governor is very sad to learn of the tragic loss of lives in the petrol tanker explosion.
Governor Bello in the statement expressed his deepest condolences to the family of those affected by the ugly incidence.
He said, “this is sadly the greatest tragedies the state has witnessed in recent times. The unfortunate accident is a sad development. I share the feeling of those who lost their loved ones in this incident”.
The incident drew anger from the students of Kogi State Polytechnic as some of their colleagues were victims of the accident.
The Governor urged them to remain calm and peaceful, stating that he equally shared in their grieving moment over the death of some of their colleagues in the disaster”.
