Kogi fatal accident: 11 persons, Dangote truck burnt

About 11 persons have been burnt beyond recognition as fully loaded petroleum tanker and commercial vehicles rammed into each other at Ochadamu village on Ajaokuta-Itobe-Anyigba highway in Kogi.

The multiple accident also got 10 other persons critically injured, white Dangote truck also got burnt, CAPITAL POST reports.

Reacting to the incident Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps, Kogi State Command, Mr Stephen Dawulung, who confirmed the mishap in Lokoja, said, five motorcycles were burnt to ashes in the inferno.

Our correspondent reports that fire erupted from the explosion of the petroleum tanker after collision with the oncoming vehicles in a very dangerous manner.

The FRSC Commander said, personnel of the Commission rushed to the scene after a distress call, rescue some trapped commuters before taking them to unnamed medical facility for attention.

Dawulung said: “Already, six of the injured persons have been taken to Holy Memorial Hospital, Ochadamu while one was taken to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Ajaokuta, for medical attention.

“It’s very saddening that 11 persons died in these unfortunate road accidents that occurred at a spot due to human carelessness,” he said.

He lamented how motorists take the road worthiness of their vehicles for granted, saying that some never heeded to their warnings and advice.

He urged motorists to ensure road worthiness of their vehicles before embarking on journey for safety of their lives and that of others, while he described the Ochadamau accident as unfortunate and shocking.

According to an eye witness, issues leading to the accident started at about 3.00pm when a truck rammed into a stationary Sienna Bus at a Military check point due to brake failure and killed one person on the spot.

He said that as the personnel engaged the truck driver trying to sort things out, another truck driver took out his phone and started recording on video and this angered the personnel who seized the phone.

“Other truck drivers around protested and demanded that the phone be returned to their colleague without further delay,” he explained.

The eye-witness said that one of them (drivers) drove his petrol-laden tanker across the road, blocked the highway and swore never to move it away until the phone was returned to the owner.

Shortly after however, another articulated vehicle, loaded with Coal from the Eastern part, also lost control due to brake failure and rammed into the tanker, which exploded in flames.

Vehicles on queue and others coming from opposite directions got engulfed in the inferno, leading to several persons getting burnt beyond recognition while others sustained injuries.