The Delta State Police Command has reacted to a tanker explosion incident that occurred on Sunday morning after a tanker laden with PMS being driven towards Benin along Benin-Sapele Road fell down upon getting to Ugbenu Koko Junction.
The Command said the content of the tanker spilled into the nearby swamp, and the spillage attracted couple of youths who took advantage of the incident and started scooping the fuel into jerry cans and other containers.
A statement signed by the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Bright Edafe, added that “while they were at it, an explosion erupted and the fire from the explosion engulfed the whole area.”
“The fire claimed the lives of five persons amongst the youths who had come to scoop the spilled fuel, and also combusted several properties which includes the following: the fallen tanker, Eight buses of different makes, Two Tankers, Five Trailers, Two Motorcycles, One Sienna space bus, and one ‘C’ Class Mercedes Benz car. Due to the fire, the registration numbers of all these affected vehicles were not clearly visible,” the statement said.
According to the Command, “at the event of this outburst, the scene was visited, and bodies of the victims were evacuated to Oghara General Hospital’s mortuary. In a bid to clear the road of obstructions efforts are being made by the men of Oghara Police Division, in collaboration with the Federal Road Safety Commission {FRSC} at Ethiope West LGA to ensure the free flow of traffic.”
“In the light of this tragic incident, the Delta State Police Command, CP Wale Abass extends his condolence to the families of those who lost their lives in this unfortunate event. He further expressed his displeasure in the inexorable perversity of Nigerians, especially the youths. He stated that it is sad that we never learn from past occurences, since this isn’t the first time such incident has happened. Nonetheless, he appeals that Nigerians should do away with greed and avoid scenes where there is an occurrence of oil spillages as it pose a serious threat to their lives and the lives of others,” the Command said.
The CP also appreciated the Federal Road safety for working hand in hand with the Command in assuring convenience to all road users in Delta state.
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