Kogi: Eight die, two injured in tanker fire explosion
Fire fighters extinguish fire on a fuel tanker. (Photo by PIUS UTOMI EKPEI / AFP)
Bello condoles victims, describes incident as tragedy
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), yesterday, confirmed the death of eight persons in a tanker fire explosion that occurred in Ankpa town, Kogi State.
The state FRSC Sector Commander, Stephen Dawulung told newsmen in Lokoja on that the accident occurred on Wednesday afternoon, when a fuel tanker rammed into four vehicles and three motorcycles.
Dawulung said the incident happened on Alo bridge on Lokoja-Ankpa- Makurdi Road.
According to him, the accident occurred when the fuel tanker driver had a brake failure and in the process rammed into four other vehicles and three motorcycles with the impact resulting in a fire explosion.
He said: “Our personnel, who rushed to the scene, were able to rescue two injured persons and rushed them to General Hospital, Ankpa, for immediate medical attention.
“They were able to recover eight charred bodies of the victims from the burnt vehicles and motorcycles involved in the accident.
“At the moment, we are not sure of the actual number of people in the vehicles and the motorcycles involved in this fatal and very unfortunate accident.
“Aside the tanker, there is a Sharon bus, three cars and three motorcycles, all of which we cannot tell how many people were occupying them before the unfortunate incident.
“At the moment, we have rescued two injured persons and recovered eight charred bodies, which have been taken to Ankpa General Hospital.
“Investigations are ongoing in collaboration with officials of National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), to ascertain the number of persons that were in the Sharon bus before the incident.
MEANWHILE, Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, has expressed shock over the explosion. Governor Bello, in a statement signed by his Chief Press secretary, Onogwu Mohammed, also expressed his deepest condolences to the family of those that died.
While praying to God to grant the departed souls eternal rest, Bello also offered prayers for quick recovery and healing for survivors of the unfortunate incident
Bello urged drivers of articulated vehicles to ensure their vehicles were in proper mechanical conditions before hitting the roads to avoid accidents.
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