A family, but one, taking his school certificate Examination in Osogbo, Osun State, was wiped out. Tears flowed flowed freely as many continued to wonder why accidents are recurrent yearly at that area though the roads are substantially good with no undulation, and clear vision. At least 23 lives perished though other estimates put the death toll at a higher number ranging from 30 and 45.
Kogi Governor, Mr. Yahaya Bello, has appealed for calm following the early morning explosion from a fuel-laden truck.
Bello expressed his condolences to those who lost loved ones, and lamented what he described as one of the worst tragedies recently in the state.
The sad occurrence took place at the Felele area of the state capital, Lokoja.
The tragedy has, again, brought to the fore safety measures put in place by ubiquitous road safety officials that cover federal roads. Drivers, passengers, and witnesses have often grumbled about the alleged extortion that are seen on the roads, rather than a desire to keep passengers and roads safe for traffic.
Bello, in a statement from his office, urged the students of the Kogi State Polytechnic, apparently agitated by the loss of their colleagues, to exercise restraint. Five students of the school, a stone throw from the accident area, were among the casualties that also included a businessman and his family of wife and three children. Passersby and school pupils, on their way to school, were burnt to death in the unfortunate incident.
Other effects included those rushed to hospitals for varying degrees of injuries, and yet-to-be estimated losses in cars and property.
No official report has been publicly released by the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) or the Police; but it is believed that the truck lost control after a brake failure, ramming into oncoming cars and other vehicles, before exploding in a ball of flames and claiming lives and property.