Petrol tanker explosion kills 8 in Kogi – FRSC | Tellwell Newspaper
Tellwell Newspaper, Abuja – Nigeria:
At least eight people were burnt to death and two others seriously injured when a fuel-laden tanker exploded after ramming into vehicles in the town of Ankpa in north-central Kogi state, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) said on Thursday.
The accident occurred on Wednesday when the tanker lost breaks on approaching a bridge where it crushed four vehicles, including a passenger bus, and three motorcycles, Kogi FRSC Commander Stephen Dawulung said.
“Our personnel were able to recover eight charred bodies of the victims from the burnt vehicles and motorcycles involved in the accident.
Two other victims who sustained grave injuries were taken to the Ankpa General Hospital for medical attention, Dawulung said
The FRSC and National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) had begun an investigation to establish the actual fatalities from the explosion, he said.
“Aside the tanker, there was a Sharon bus, three cars and three motorcycles, all of which we cannot tell how many people were occupying them before the unfortunate incident,” said Dawulung.
“From our findings, the bus was traveling to Makurdi, but no one knows the number of persons inside it and the very park it loaded from to enable us get the manifest for proper assessment.
“The unfortunate thing is that the tanker burst in flames, burning all the vehicles and motorcycles involved beyond recognition. Even number plates are burnt beyond recognition,” he said.
The FRSC commander urged members of the public whose relations had travelled on Wednesday but had not made contact or could not be reached to report to the nearest police station.
Accidents are common on Nigeria’s poorly maintained roads due largely to speeding and disregard to traffic rules.
