- No fewer than six individuals have lost their lives following a sudden gas cylinder truck explosion on Tuesday night along the Abuja-Lokoja Federal Highway.
- The explosion occurred at an active military checkpoint, igniting a rapid inferno that quickly spread to three other commercial trucks in the immediate queue.
- First responders from the Federal Road Safety Corps, local police, and traffic divisions have cleared the debris to restore normal traffic flow.
A devastating gas explosion along the Abuja-Lokoja Federal Highway in Kogi State has claimed the lives of at least six people.
Eko Hot Blog reports that the incident occurred on Tuesday night at a military checkpoint located within the jurisdiction of the Chikara Division, prompting an immediate mobilization of security and rescue agencies.
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Eyewitness accounts indicate that a truck transporting gas cylinders exploded as it approached the Army checkpoint.
The blast created a massive fireball that rapidly swept through the queue of vehicles waiting at the security stop, completely engulfing three other nearby trucks.
According to eyewitnesses, the driver of the gas truck and his assistant were burnt to death instantly. The spreading fire also trapped and killed the drivers and conductors of the three other trucks that were caught in the intense heat.
The affected commercial vehicles, which carried registration plates from Jigawa State, Lagos State, and the Federal Capital Territory, were burnt to ashes. Emergency responders, including officials from the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and the Motor Traffic Division, arrived at the scene to manage the crisis.
The remains of the victims were recovered from the wreckage and evacuated to the General Hospital in Abaji. Additionally, emergency workers cleared the charred frames of the trucks from the highway to clear the severe gridlock and restore free-flowing traffic along the busy federal transit route.
At the time of this report, formal statements from local authorities are still pending, as attempts to reach the Kogi State Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Salisu Oyiza Afusat, for official confirmation were unsuccessful.
