Some Polytechnic students, a school bus conveying students and residents were persons reportedly consumed by a fire sparked by a fuel tanker explosion on Wednesday at Felele area of Lokoja, Kogi State capital.
The number of casualties is yet to be ascertained as the situation was worsened as other oncoming vehicles ran into the inferno.
Eyewitness account revealed that the petrol tanker, which was coming from the Okene while making its way to the northern part of the country, had a failed brake which led to the accident.
The Governor of Kogi State Yahaya Bello in a statement signed by his spokesperson, Onogwu Muhammed, has expressed his condolence to the families of those affected by the incident.
He said: “It is very sad to learn of the tragic loss of lives, many vehicles, property and other valuables in the petrol tanker fire.”
He urged the students of Kogi State Polytechnic to remain calm and peaceful, and that he shared in their grieving moment over the death of some of their colleagues.
Officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps and fire fighters were on hand to control the situation.