Six Killed as Gas Truck Explodes at Army Checkpoint in Kogi
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 jurisdiction of the Chikara Division, prompting an emergency response from officers of the Nigeria Police Force, the Motor Traffic Division, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), and other rescue personnel.
An eyewitness said the truck, which was transporting gas cylinders, exploded as it approached the checkpoint, triggering a massive fire that quickly spread to three other trucks. The witness disclosed that the driver of the gas truck and his assistant were burnt to death, while the drivers and motor boys of the three affected trucks also lost their lives, bringing the death toll to six.
The destroyed vehicles, bearing registration numbers from Jigawa State, Lagos State and the Federal Capital Territory, were completely consumed by the inferno. The remains of the victims were evacuated to the General Hospital in Abaji, while the burnt vehicles were cleared from the highway to restore the free flow of traffic.
Efforts to obtain official confirmation from the Kogi State Police Command were unsuccessful, as the Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Salisu Oyiza Afusat, did not respond to calls or text messages seeking comment as of the time this report was filed.