29 August, 2011, Sweetcrude, Okpokwu – A fuel tanker yesterday exploded and burst into flames killing five people, while about 20 others are in critical condition with severe burns at the Okpoga General hospital in Okpokwu Local Government Area of Benue State.
The explosion, it was gathered, occured when some residents of the town converged on the scene where the tanker had overturned after skidding off the road with fuel gushing out from it.
Following this, the tanker was said to have caught fire and exploded in the process, killing three people instantly, while two others died at the hospital.
Chairman of the local government area, Mr. Robert Idoko, who was on hand alongside the state Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Chairman, Dr. Emmanuel Agbo, to ascertain the level of damage caused by the explosion, said most of the victims were mostly women and children.
He described the incident as unfortunate, adding that: “Everybody is in shock with what happened but we shall do our best to ensure those who are alive in the hospital get adequate treatment.”
He further urged the state government as well as other Nigerians to come to the aid of the victims. However, efforts to get the state Commissioner of Police to comment on the incident proved abortive as he was said to be indisposed.
