At least six people lost their lives on Tuesday night after a truck carrying gas cylinders exploded near an Army checkpoint along the Abuja-Lokoja Federal Highway in Kogi State.
The explosion occurred around the Chikara Division area and prompted an immediate response from police officers, Motor Traffic Division personnel, and officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps.
According to eyewitnesses, the truck burst into flames as it approached the checkpoint, causing a powerful explosion that quickly spread to nearby vehicles.
The driver of the gas truck and his assistant were reportedly killed instantly, while the fire also consumed three other trucks, resulting in the deaths of their drivers and assistants. A total of six fatalities were recorded in the incident.
The affected trucks, registered in Jigawa State, Lagos State and the Federal Capital Territory, were completely destroyed by the fire.
Authorities evacuated the bodies of the victims to the General Hospital in Abaji, while the damaged vehicles were removed from the road to restore normal traffic flow along the highway.
As of the time of filing the report, the Kogi State Police Command had not officially commented on the incident, as attempts to reach the Police Public Relations Officer for confirmation were unsuccessful.
