30 tankers fell this month in same portion of road –
From Aideloje Ojo
Minna
No fewer than 35 people have reportedly been killed and 40 others injured in fuel tanker explosion while scooping petroleum product in Badeggi area of Niger state.
The accident occurred around 11 o’clock on Tuesday morning at Essan and Badeggi communities between Bida to Agaie road in Katcha local government of the state.
A witness account said, “the affected victims were involved in the scooping of petroleum product when the tanker suddenly exploded and burnt the victims, some beyond recognition”, adding that the injured were rushed to hospitals for treatment.
The Public Relations Officer ( PRO) of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA) Ibrahim Hussaini confirmed the incident to Blueprint in a telephone interview.
He said, ” yes I can confirm that the accident occurred today. There are many casualties and 30 to 35 people have died so far. NSEMA will issue situation report soon as our rescue operatives have been deployed to the scene “.
Also speaking on the accident, the Niger State chairman and National Ex-officio of Tanker Drivers and Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) Comrade Farouk Mohammed Kawo said that the tanker was coming from Lagos to the Northern part carrying petroleum product.
Comrade Kawo lamented that over 30 fuel tankers have been involved in accident within this month of October in that particular potion of the road which has become very bad for motorists plying the route.
He revealed that youths in the community have continued to scoop oil from their accidented vehicles despite warnings explaining that last Sunday a tanker trailer carrying groundnut oil had an accident and its product was scooped in the same area.
The chairman appealed to the Niger state Governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago to urgently come to their aid by grading the particular area to ease their movement and aviod lost of lives and properties.
