BLOODBATH: Tanker Explode, 4 Cars Gone Over 102 Roast To Death?
Tragedy struck yesterday morning at Okogbe community, Ahoada West
Local Government Area of Rivers State when a fuel-laden tanker exploded
and killed over 100 people who were trying to scoop fuel when the tanker
overturned and spew its content on the East-West Road.
Okogbe is few minutes to Mbiama , which is the boundary between Rivers and Bayelsa states. National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) confirmed 95 bodies were recovered and 18 victims on admission in hospitals for treatment for burns.
A man who identified himself as simply Sunday and claimed to be from Okogbe community said immediately the tanker overturned after an accident with its contents spilling on the road, residents of nearby communities rushed to the with jerry cans and were scooping fuel. The tanker suddenly exploded and burnt them all.
According to him, he was also rushing to the when the tanker exploded and he had to run back when he saw the fire consuming those already scooping fuel. “They were more than 100. I was rushing to the place to scoop my own fuel when the thing exploded. It is not just our community. Other nearby communities such as Ayakama, Obolobo were involved. They all came to scoop fuel.”
The scene of the incident was a bedlam, as families of those who perished and sympathizers were seen crying, while others were putting the injured into various vehicles and rushing them to hospitals. Rescue operations were supervised by sympathizers who resorted to using motorbikes to convey the injured to Mbiama community, searching for hospitals and clinics. Men of the Nigeria Police and the Nigeria Army were drafted to the scene to prevent any breakdown of law and order.
One of the drivers of the affected vehicles who gave his name simply as Edmund explained that immediately after the accident, he escaped after being trapped. Then saw people trying to scoop fuel and tried to stop them because he sensed the tanker would explode but they did not listen to him. “They came five, 20, 50 and they flooded the place. I tried to stop them but they did not listen to me. At that time the drivers of the tanker and the bus were quarreling with each other. But the bus driver later ran away. But shortly after that, the tanker exploded. The explosion sounded like an earthquake. Many of them could not come out alive. They were more than 90.” The incident immediately caused a traffic gridlock along the East West Road, with travelers from the Rivers and Bayelsa end of the road stranded for hours.
Some of the dignitaries billed to attend the official launch of the ‘Bring Back The Book’ in Bayelsa State including the Minister of State for Education, Mr. Nyesom Wike were affected in the traffic build up in the afternoon and it took the intervention of the police and officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps to resolve the traffic jam.
Commenting on the tragedy at Rivers State yesterday, Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State said, it was another case involving loss of lives in such a magnitude and circumstance that was heart- rendering and pathetic.
On behalf of the Government and people of Anambra State, he consoled with the Government and people of Rivers State, describing the incident as very depressing and touching. In his words: “In this Your troubling time, I assure you that we share in your grief and pray to God Almighty to grant you, especially the governor and all those directly affected by the incident, the fortitude to bear it, always trusting that the will of God is supreme at all times.
Okogbe is few minutes to Mbiama , which is the boundary between Rivers and Bayelsa states. National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) confirmed 95 bodies were recovered and 18 victims on admission in hospitals for treatment for burns.
A man who identified himself as simply Sunday and claimed to be from Okogbe community said immediately the tanker overturned after an accident with its contents spilling on the road, residents of nearby communities rushed to the with jerry cans and were scooping fuel. The tanker suddenly exploded and burnt them all.
According to him, he was also rushing to the when the tanker exploded and he had to run back when he saw the fire consuming those already scooping fuel. “They were more than 100. I was rushing to the place to scoop my own fuel when the thing exploded. It is not just our community. Other nearby communities such as Ayakama, Obolobo were involved. They all came to scoop fuel.”
The scene of the incident was a bedlam, as families of those who perished and sympathizers were seen crying, while others were putting the injured into various vehicles and rushing them to hospitals. Rescue operations were supervised by sympathizers who resorted to using motorbikes to convey the injured to Mbiama community, searching for hospitals and clinics. Men of the Nigeria Police and the Nigeria Army were drafted to the scene to prevent any breakdown of law and order.
One of the drivers of the affected vehicles who gave his name simply as Edmund explained that immediately after the accident, he escaped after being trapped. Then saw people trying to scoop fuel and tried to stop them because he sensed the tanker would explode but they did not listen to him. “They came five, 20, 50 and they flooded the place. I tried to stop them but they did not listen to me. At that time the drivers of the tanker and the bus were quarreling with each other. But the bus driver later ran away. But shortly after that, the tanker exploded. The explosion sounded like an earthquake. Many of them could not come out alive. They were more than 90.” The incident immediately caused a traffic gridlock along the East West Road, with travelers from the Rivers and Bayelsa end of the road stranded for hours.
Some of the dignitaries billed to attend the official launch of the ‘Bring Back The Book’ in Bayelsa State including the Minister of State for Education, Mr. Nyesom Wike were affected in the traffic build up in the afternoon and it took the intervention of the police and officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps to resolve the traffic jam.
Commenting on the tragedy at Rivers State yesterday, Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State said, it was another case involving loss of lives in such a magnitude and circumstance that was heart- rendering and pathetic.
On behalf of the Government and people of Anambra State, he consoled with the Government and people of Rivers State, describing the incident as very depressing and touching. In his words: “In this Your troubling time, I assure you that we share in your grief and pray to God Almighty to grant you, especially the governor and all those directly affected by the incident, the fortitude to bear it, always trusting that the will of God is supreme at all times.
Source: Su
