No fewer than five persons lost their lives on Monday when a liquefied petroleum gas tanker crashed in Lawanti village, Akko Local Government Area of Gombe State.
The fatal crash occurred along the Bauchi–Gombe highway after the truck reportedly veered off its lane and ploughed into residents in the community.
Several others were said to have suffered varying degrees of injury in the incident, which threw the settlement into panic.
Residents who witnessed the tragedy described it as horrifying, saying the victims died on the spot.
The Minister of Transportation, Senator Sa’idu Alkali, has commiserated with the families affected by the crash and the broader Lawanti community.
In a message issued through his Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, the minister said the deaths represented a painful blow to the state.
Alkali prayed for the repose of the souls of the deceased and asked God to grant strength to their families as they mourn.
He also wished the injured speedy recovery.
The accident has renewed calls for stricter safety enforcement on the nation’s highways, particularly for tankers and other heavy-duty carriers transporting flammable materials.