Another tanker explosion claims 30 lives in Niger, 40 others injured
By Idun Maximus
There is no end insight over fuel tanker explosion in Niger state as yet another tragedy has befell the state after 30 people were on Tuesday burnt to ashes in a tanker explosions at Essan community in Katcha local government area of the state.
Over 40 others were said to have suffered severe burns and have been evacuated to the hospital for treatments.
According to a source close to the community, the fuel tanker was said to have capsized while negotiating the bad portion of the road and overturned its contents at about 11:00am.
The villagers, including children immediately besieged the scene of the fallen tanker and began to scoop the product.
It was reliably gathered that the affected victims were said to have used every available container including metals to scoop the fuel and in the process ignited the fire.
“Majority of the victims were burnt beyond recognition, we cannot identify them. We just have to do mass burial for them”, a village source told our correspondent on phone.
Although the state emergency management agency was yet to issue a statement as at the time of filing this report (5:20pm), the Niger State chairman of Tanker Drivers and Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) National Ex-Officio, Comrade Farouk Mohammed Kawo confirmed the incident in Minna, saying that the tanker was coming from Lagos and heading towards the northern part of the country with petroleum products.
He blamed the accident on the deplorable condition of the road which work has been ongoing for over 20 years now without completion, adding that “despite its deplorable condition, it is the only accessible road linking the North and the South west at the moment.
Comrade Farouk Kawo while lamenting condition of the road, disclosed that no fewer than 30 tanker trailers have been involved in accidents within this month of October alone along the road.
He revealed that a similar accident, involving a groundnut oil tanker occurred at the same spot on Sunday leaving the youths in the community to free for all scooping of the oil.
He pointed out that the youth in the area have continued to scoop fuel from fallen tankers each time the accident occurred, adding “it is unfortunate that this very incident has led to loss of lives”.
Meanwhile, the Niger State Governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago has extended his deepest condolences to the family of the victims and the entire people of Essa, Katcha local government area, over the tanker explosion.
The governor in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Bologi Ibrahim, described the incident as worrisome, unfortunate, and pathetic.
“This is yet another painful, difficult, and tragic one for the people and the state government”, he said
He pointed out that it is disheartening how people have continued to approach a fallen tanker to scoop its contents despite several sensitization on the danger of such action.
The governor then prayed that Allah repose the souls of those who lost their lives in the explosion and grant quick recovery to the injured.
He commended the management and staff of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA) for its prompt intervention, assuring that the state government through relevant MDAs will provide the needed support.
