At least 13 school children died in Lagos Tuesday after a truck reportedly suffered a brake failure and rammed into them, witnesses said.

The children were returning from school when the incident happened.

The exact number of casualties is yet to be ascertained.

The accident happened along Isheri Road, just before the Ojodu Police Station. Businesses along the road were shut down while vehicular traffic is grounded.

Witnesses said the truck driver ran into the children just outside Ojodu Grammar School and sped away.

Here is the Lagos state Police commissioner Hakeem Odumosu, addressing newsmen.