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It was a tragedy in Nigeria’s South/South region of Cross River State as more than twelve people travelling for a funeral was killed in a ghastly auto-crash along the ever-busy Calabar-Ikom Highway.

Meanwhile, two other people are said to be critically injured in the accident.The accident, which involved a white-coloured Hiace bus number plates EDA28XA, according to an online account, occurred around 10 a.m on Thursday, September 24, along the Calabar-Ikom Highway in Mbarakom Community, Akamkpa Local Government Area of the state.
According to an eyewitness, the crash was caused by brake failure while the vehicle was on high speed. Another witness, Albert Asuquo, who helped in the rescue operation, said that the injured passengers were taken to the General Hospital in Akamkpa alongside the corpses.

A neighbour of some of the deceased persons who gave his name as Mr Effiong said they were in a chartered bus going to a burial of another neighbour who passed away.
“I know some of them very well, they are my neighbours and we stay in the same yard. 
“Someone in the area died and they were going for the burial. It was a chartered vehicle for the burial. May their souls rest in peace,” he said.

A gas tanker has caused a big explosion at Balogun Bus Stop in Iju Ishaga, very close to Harmony Estate and Obawole, both in the Ogba area of Ikeja, the capital of Lagos State.

Due to the effect of the explosion which caused a huge fire, residents of the area, which serves as the border community between Lagos and Ogun states, caused residents to scamper for safety.  

The loud bang, which many residents reported across social media platforms were as a result of a gas tanker about to enter a newly built plant in a residential neighborhood.

A lawyer, Fisayo Eluyare, who was among those who raised the alarm said the explosion nearly brought down his house.

He wrote: “Gas explosion nearly brought my house down! The explosion didn’t even happen very close to my house but it shook the whole house and almost shattered my windows.

“The light from the explosion came very close to my building. Thank you God o.”

Other residents appealed for emergency responders to be alerted as to the fire, they claimed, was already entering nearby homes.

Contacted, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) confirmed the incident, urging residents to stay away from the area.

NEMA’s southwest Coordinator, Ibrahim Farinloye told The nation that the agency’s officials were on the ground and fire service has been contacted.

He said: “Yes, a tanker exploded at Balogun Bus stop, Iju Ishaga. Our people are already there and fire service has been informed.

“The tanker was trying to enter a gas plant when it exploded. There were domestic cylinders there and so, those also started exploding.

“The fire has not extended to any building. It is still within the gas plant. People sustained burn injuries but no deaths were reported yet. We have contacted the fire service. We appeal to people to stay away from the area,” he said.