Benue tanker explosion claims many lives with over 100 persons confirmed dead
A fuel tanker explosion in the Oshigbudu, Agatu Local Government Area of Benue State has left scores of natives dead, Daily Report Nigeria can confirm.
An eyewitness stated that the tanker was conveying petrol from Oweto towards Otukpo when the driver lost control of the truck. The truck fell over, spilling its content all over the Oshigbudu/Obagaji junction.
According to the witness, “the whole thing happened suddenly and when the truck fell, the petrol spilt into people’s house and a nearby petrol station and there was a huge explosion.
ATTENTION: Click “HERE” to join our WhatsApp group and receive News updates directly on your WhatsApp!
“Many houses are presently on fire and most of those living in those houses did not escape because of the manner the accident happened,” he said.
Vice Chairman of Agatu LGA, Mr, John Ikwulono, who confirmed the incident, disclosed the tanker explosion around noon on Sunday.
“It was a tanker explosion and over 100 houses in the community have been burnt down and many lives have lost been lost.
“Though we cannot place a figure on the number of deaths they are actually much. The truth is that the death toll will be massive because you know that in a house you might have up to 10 persons if not more than that.
“And the houses that were burnt down are more than 100. So in each of the houses, there must be a human being living or staying there. There is no way a house can be completely empty on a Sunday like this. So we have a huge crisis in our hands at the moment.
“We are calling on Non-Governmental Organizations, NGOs and public-spirited individuals, the State Emergency Management Agency, SEMA and National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA to come to the aid of the people,” Ikwulono said.
Agatu local government area is some four hours drive from Makurdi, the Benue State capital and help from this axis is unlikely as the fire is believed to have gone out of control.
When contacted, the Executive Secretary of the State Emergency Management Agency, Dr Emmanuel Shior, also confirmed the incident to newsmen via telephone.
While noting that he would brief Governor Samuel Ortom on the development, he said a statement will be issued shortly.
“The fire inferno at Oshugbudu in Agatu local Government, my local government of origin today, 18-04-2021 which has claimed so many lives and destroyed properties yet to be quantified, is the Chief of all the calamities that have fallen us this year,” he said.
“As I pray God to comfort the good people of Agatu and most especially those directly involved, over the lost, I wish to call on Government at all levels and spirited individuals to come to our aids in order to drastically reduce the effect of the disaster on the people. Once again may God grant us the fortitude to bear the huge loss.”
In another story, the Dean of Student Affairs, Auchi Polytechnic in Edo state, Dr Shola Eshiobo has been found dead in his office.
The late Dean of Student Affairs was found lifeless in his office after he left to attend to official matters on Sunday, but did not return home.
