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 incident occurred within the jurisdiction of the Chikara Division and triggered an immediate emergency response.
An eyewitness told our correspondent that the truck, which was conveying gas cylinders, exploded as it approached the Army checkpoint. The blast ignited a massive fire that quickly spread to other vehicles queued at the checkpoint, turning the area into an inferno within minutes.
“The driver of the gas truck and his motor boy were burnt to death. The fire also engulfed three other trucks, killing their drivers and motor boys. In all, six people lost their lives in the incident,” the eyewitness said. The affected trucks, with registration numbers from Jigawa State, Lagos State, and the Federal Capital Territory, were destroyed.
Personnel of the Nigeria Police, Motor Traffic Division, and officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps responded to the scene. The victims’ remains were evacuated to the General Hospital, Abaji, while rescue teams worked to clear the burnt vehicles from the highway to restore free flow of traffic.
Efforts to obtain official confirmation from the Kogi State Police Command were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report. The Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Salisu Oyiza Afusat, did not respond to calls and text messages seeking comment on the tragedy.
The explosion has again raised concerns about the movement of hazardous materials through busy checkpoints and highways. Road safety advocates are urging stricter enforcement of vehicle inspection and safer handling of gas-laden trucks to prevent similar tragedies on Nigeria’s federal roads.
