The combined efforts of security operatives on Friday evening averted a disaster in Kogi State as a result of a fuel tanker accident, the Federal Road Safety Corps has said.
FRSC Sector Commander in the state, Mr Tenimu Etuku, told the News Agency of Nigeria in Lokoja, the state capital, that the accident occurred at the Crusher on the Felele Expressway around 5 p.m.
The sector commander said that the truck carrying fuel was heading to Abuja when the tank disconnected from the head and rolled into a ditch.
“Nobody was hurt or killed in the accident. The tanker driver and his assistant escaped unhurt,” he said.
He said when the accident occurred, the FRSC patrol team quickly rushed to the scene, and invited the police, National Security and Civil Defence Corps and the Mobile Police unit for security cover.
“The reason is to ensure that the community members do not gain access to the tanker and attempt to scoop the fuel to cause a fire outbreak.
“We don’t want a repeat of what happened in Niger and Jigawa states, where several people were lost to fire incidents while attempting to scoop fuel, ” he said.
According to him, some people attempted to scoop the fuel before the arrival of his personnel, but they were chased away.
Etuku said that the area was properly cordoned off by security operatives and some leaders of the Crusher community.
“The community leaders and the security agencies agreed to ensure that nobody is allowed to go into the ditch with the aim of scooping fuel,” he added.
The commander appealed to members of the Crusher community to avoid any temptation to scoop the overflowing fuel to avoid any fire disaster that could bring about colossal loss of lives.
PUNCH Online earlier reported that no fewer than 45 lives were lost while 62 were severely injured in a tanker fire incident in Niger State.
The incident happened on Tuesday, when a tanker fell on its side in a lone accident at Essa community along the Bida–Badegi–Agaie Road in Katcha Local Government Area of the state.
Head of Operations, National Emergency Management Agency, Minna Office, Hussaini Isah, disclosed this in a statement on Friday, attributing the tragedy to the bad condition of the road.
NEMA had stated that rescue operations were hampered by traffic congestion, poor road conditions, and a lack of network connectivity for effective communication.
Updating the casualty figure on Friday, Isah said the deceased comprised 12 males, 27 females, and six children, while the injured included 24 males, 32 females, and seven children.
Isah explained that all the victims were affected while scooping spilt fuel from the crashed tanker.
He stated that 62 others are still receiving treatment for severe burns in the hospital.
“Some of the victims were initially evacuated to Essa Primary Health Care, Idris Private Hospital, but were later moved to Umaru Sanda General Hospital, Bida, and the Federal Medical Centre, Bida. Fourteen critically injured persons were referred to Gwagwalada Specialist Hospital for further treatment.
“The additional 12 injured persons reported today were initially taken to their family houses for treatment but later returned to hospitals for better care,” Isah added.
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