At least 11 people were burnt to death in a fatal accident involving 20 vehicles on Thursday in the Ochadamu area in Kogi State.
Dangote Company coal truck that had brake failure hit a fuel tanker parked at a military checkpoint, causing an explosion that killed people and destroyed many vehicles.
The Federal Road Safety Corps, in a statement issued through its spokesperson, Bisi Kazeem, confirmed that 20 vehicles comprising a truck, a tanker, 12 cars, and six bikes were burnt during the explosion.
Kazeem explained that further investigation revealed that the main cause of the crash and subsequent fire outbreak that claimed the lives of the victims were road obstruction and brake failure.
Owing to the ill-fated auto crash, the Acting Corps Marshal, FRSC, Dauda Biu, called on drivers, vehicle owners and fleet operators to imbibe the safe culture of carrying out routine maintenance on their vehicles.
The statement obtained read, “As at the time of this statement, the emergency rescue team of the Corps has concluded the rescue of the injured persons to the hospital while the burnt victims were also evacuated.
“The Corps Marshal has directed adequate deployment of personnel to ensure prompt clearing of obstructions and free flow of traffic on the affected part of the road.
“While decrying the dangers and damages that come from poor vehicle maintenance, wanton neglect of signs and warnings about mechanical deficiencies in the vehicle and driving against legal speed limit, the Acting Corps Marshal further directed Commanding Officers to intensify sensitisation and routine inspection for all fleet operators nationwide.
“He concluded by admonishing the public to always patronise the FRSC toll-free line 122 and the National Traffic Radio 107.1 FM which are always available for all road users to report emergencies at any given time.”