Death toll rises to 13 in Kogi petrol tanker accident

At least 13 people are dead after the Friday petrol tanker accident in Felele area of Lokoja, Kogi State.

Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps in kogi state Mr. Olusegun Martins, told newsmen in Lokoja that three other victims died Friday night.

He said that a staff of the Kogi State Polytechnic, Lokoja, was one of them.

He said the relations of dead victims have started identifying them, but six of them were burnt beyond recognition.

According to him, eight other injured victims of the accident are still receiving treatment at the intensive care units of the Federal Medical Centre and the State Specialist Hospital, Lokoja.

He said investigation into the cause of the accident was underway.

Naija News learnt that 10 people lost their lives immediately in the accident which occurred at about 1:45pm on Friday at Felele area of Lokoja.

The accident occurred as a result of a head-on collision involving a bus and a tanker laden with 33,000 litres of petrol.

Eyewitnesses said the collision ignited a fire which engulfed the two vehicles and a commercial tricycle.

Most of the victims were occupants of the 18-seater bus believed to be owned by Delta Line.

The bus was coming from Abuja end of the road, while the tanker was coming from Okene end