No fewer than six people were killed on Tuesday night after a gas-laden truck exploded at an Army checkpoint along the Abuja-Lokoja Federal Highway in Kogi State.
The explosion occurred within the Chikara Division area, sparking a massive fire that engulfed several vehicles and prompted a joint emergency response by the police, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), and the Motor Traffic Division.
According to an eyewitness, the truck, which was transporting gas cylinders, exploded as it approached the checkpoint. The driver and his assistant were burnt to death, while the fire spread to three other trucks, killing their drivers and assistants.
“In all, six people lost their lives in the incident,” the eyewitness said.
The affected trucks, bearing registration numbers from Jigawa State, Lagos State and the Federal Capital Territory, were completely destroyed by the fire.
The bodies of the victims were evacuated to the General Hospital in Abaji, while emergency responders cleared the wreckage from the highway to restore the free flow of traffic.
As of the time of filing this report, the Kogi State Police Command had yet to officially confirm the incident. Calls and text messages sent to the Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Salisu Oyiza Afusat, were not responded to.
