Victor Ezeja
Not less than 18 persons have been confirmed dead after tanker ladden with petrol cut fire on Ugwu-Onyeama axis of the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway on Saturday.
This was confirmed by the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) on Sunday.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelThis comes two weeks after a tanker explosion in Suleja, Niger State that killed about 90 persons, raising concerns about the frequency of such devastating incidents and road safety.
According to reports, the accident occured when the truck lost control as it descended a hilly part of the road, colliding with cars in front of it. Its contents subsequently spilled on the road and setting off a huge fire that burnt vehicles and people inside.
“Currently, the death toll from the unfortunate accident is 18 persons and we continue to pray for their souls to have eternal rest,” Sector Commander of the FRSC, Enugu State Command, Mr Franklin Agbakoba, stated in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria.
According to Agbakoba, one fuel tanker, one water tanker and 15 other vehicles and one tricycle, were affected in the fire accident.
A video shared on social media showed charred bodies of victims and burnt vehicles littered the scene of the accident.
Meanwhile, President Bola Tinubu has expressed condoled with the government and people of Enugu State over the fuel tanker explosion.
In a statement by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the President also commiserated with the families of the victims, and prayed for the repose of the departed souls and wishing the injured a speedy recovery.
Also, the Southeast Senators’ Forum expressed shock and sorrow over the Enugu tanker fire.
In a statement released on Sunday by the Leader of the forum, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, the forum expressed sadness that the incident occured just barely a week aftet similar incident in Niger State. “It’s sorrowful and very unfortunate that we will lose many of our people, whose total number is yet to be ascertained, barely a week after similar incident in Niger State, which pain and shock Nigeria is yet to recover from,” Abaribe stated.
The Forum called on traffic management authorities to step up their game, adding that the frequency of these accidents now constitutes a total embarrassment to the country.
“We can’t continue losing our people this way,” Abaribe said.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with seven years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Master's degree in Mass Communication.
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