Olushola Omogbehin
About thirty persons have been burnt to death with another forty sustained various levels of injuries while scooping petroleum products at the scene of a tanker explosion in Niger State.
The explosion, which occurred around 11 a.m. near Essa village, between Bida and Agaie Road, in Katcha Local Council was caused when villagers attempted to scoop fuel from the fallen tanker.
Confirming this, Niger State Chairman of Tanker Drivers and Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), National Ex-Officio, Comrade Farouk Mohammed Kawo, said that the tanker, loaded with petroleum products was coming from Lagos to the northern part of the country.
“Reports sent to us indicated that the tanker was coming from Lagos and heading to the northern part before the sad incident occurred.
“Within this month (October) alone, over 30 tanker trailers had been involved in various accidents in that particular area because of the very bad nature of the road.
“We have always educated the people, especially the youth, on the danger inherent in scooping fuel during any accident, but they would not listen.
“Just last Sunday, a tanker carrying groundnut oil had an accident in the area, and residents in the area, especially the youth, rushed to the area and started scooping the product.
The state governor, Muhammed Umaru Bago, has extended his condolences to the people of Essa, Katcha Local Government Area, as he described the incident as worrisome, unfortunate, and pathetic.
“This is yet another painful, difficult, and tragic one for the people and the state government.”
“It is disheartening how people have continued to approach a fallen tanker to scoop its contents despite several sensitisations on the danger of such action. I think the people should value their lives no matter the situation more than material things,” he said.
