At least 23 persons, including five students of the Kogi State Polytechnic and three children on their way to school, have been killed in a road crash and infermno involving a petrol tanker in Felele along the Lokoja-Abuja Highway.
The petrol-laden tanker belonging to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation was said to have developed brake failure around 8 am and fell on five cars, two motorcycles, and three tricycles, popularly known as Keke, killing all the occupants.
According to eye witnesses, among those killed and burnt beyond recognition were five students of the state-owned polytechnic, three nursery school pupils, and passers-by.
A businessman simply identified as Samson, his wife, and three children were also killed in the accident and inferno.
Samson was said to be a dealer in sewing machines in Lokoja and had gone to drop off his children at school when the accident occurred.
An eyewitness said that the brakes of the tanker failed during an attempt to manoeuvre and in the process, fell on its side, trapping five vehicles that had attempted to overtake it.
The eye witness said, “I was about to cross the road when I noticed the tanker driver signalling to motorists to steer clear, but before you could say, Jack Robinson, the tanker was on its side, falling on all vehicles beside it.”
“Immediately, the tanker fell, the fire started and incinerated all vehicles along its way.”
The charred wreckage of about five cars, two tricycles, and three burnt motorcycles littered the scene of the accident.
Officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps, who arrived around 10 am with an ambulance from the Rescue/Rehabilitation team, evacuated the corpses as residents made frantic efforts to identify them.
FRSC Sector Commander, Idris Fika Ali, said 23 persons were killed in the explosion while one child escaped with injuries.
Meanwhile, the Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello has expressed shock over the fatal tanker explosion.
Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Onogwu Mohammed, in a statement said, ”Governor Bello is very sad to learn of the tragic loss of lives, many vehicles, property and other valuables in the petrol tanker fire while expressing his deepest condolences to the families of those affected by the ugly occurrence.”
Bello also urged the students of the Kogi State Polytechnic to remain calm and peaceful, stating that he shared in their grief.