25 people have been killed in central Nigeria after a fuel tanker exploded following a collision with other vehicles.
The crash happened on Wednesday morning on a major highway in Lokoja when the driver lost control of the tanker after the brakes failed, local police said.A primary school pupil and students are reported to be among the dead.
Lokoja police spokesman Willy Aya said that several victims were burnt beyond recognition.
Many of them were pedestrians, including the students who were crossing the road to go to college, local resident Iliyasu Zakari told the BBC.
Others who died included a group who were killed inside their car, he said.
Onogwu Muhammed, chief press secretary to Yahaya Bello, the state governor, also confirmed the incident in a statement.
“He said 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.”
