Police in Nigeria's commercial capital, Lagos, have restored order after a road accident which threatened to spark off a new round of rioting.

At least 20 people were killed when an articulated lorry, believed to have been driven by a northern Muslim, crashed into a local passenger bus in the northern suburb of Ketu.

The lorry driver managed to flee the scene for fear of being lynched by angry onlookers.

"Nobody knows his whereabouts as he ran away after the crash," said one police officer at the scene.

But the crowd seized fuel from a nearby petrol station and set fire to the lorry.

Governor's appeal

The mob then blocked the road and tried to attack three more heavy-duty vehicles - also believed to be driven by northerners.

"It was a spontaneous reaction from the mob who set the truck ablaze to protest the death of the people in the crowd, including a pregnant woman," said Lagos State Police Commissioner Mike Okiro.

Armed police arrived within an hour and were deployed in the area to stop the violence from spreading.

State Governor Bola Tinubu went to the scene of the accident and appealed to the crowd to keep the peace.

"The crowd left after the governor's appeal," said Commissioner Okiro.

The accident occurred near the market which was the scene of violent clashes last year between local Yoruba and northern Hausa traders.

Hundreds of people have been killed in recent weeks in religious and ethnic violence between northern Muslims and southern Christians.

And this ends the Kalakuta News.