File: an oil tanker fire

The Federal Road Safety Corps ( FRSC) on Saturday said the death toll in the Friday petrol tanker accident in Felele area of Lokoja, has risen to 13.

The state FRSC Sector Commander , 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 said that 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 that investigation into the cause of the accident was underway.

NAN reports that 10 people lost their live instantly in the accident which occurred at about 1:45 pm on Friday, at Felele area of Lokoja.

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

Eyewitnesses said that 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 the Abuja end of the road while the tanker was coming from the Okene end.

( NAN)