Kogi: Bello mourns as school children, others die in Lokoja tanker explosion

The Kogi state governor Yahaya Bello has expressed shock over petrol tanker explosion in Lokoja, Wednesday morning, which led to death of persons.

Governor Bello who spoke through his Chief Press  Secretary Onogwu Muhammed in an official statement said, “The governor of Kogi state, His Excellency Yahaya Bello has expressed shock over the unfortunate fatal tanker explosion which took place in the early hours of Wednesday 23, September, around the Felele area of Lokoja metropolis.
“Governor Bello is very sad to learn of the tragic loss of lives, many vehicles, property and other valuables in the petrol tanker fire while expressing his deepest condolences to the family of those affected by the ugly occurrence. 


“This is sadly the greatest tragedies the state has witnessed in recent times while describing the unfortunate accident as a sad development and shares the feeling of those who lost their loves ones in this incident.
“The governor also urged the students of Kogi State Polytechnic to remain calm and peaceful, stating that he equally shared in their grieving moment over the death of some of their colleagues in the disaster.”
Up to 20 persons reportedly died around Felele, Lokoja along Lokoja-Abuja highway as a result of oil tanker explosion.
Many vehicles including school bus and entire pupils conveyed, were burnt beyond recognition. 


A family of seven, father, mother and five children and about 20 corpses have been recovered, and deposited at Kogi state specialist hospital, Lokoja.
Sadly, men of the fire service were nowhere close to the scene of the incident, leaving officers of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and other security agencies on ground to handle the situation.
According to an eye witness account, the tanker developed a brake failure, crashed and exploded around the Kogi state Polytechnic.

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