Another tanker explosion kills 30, injures 40 others in Niger

Over 30 people were burnt beyond recognition in a petrol tanker explosion at Essan community, Katcha Local Government, Niger State, yesterday.
Over 40 others were said to have suffered severe burns and have been evacuated to the hospital for treatments.
The fuel tanker was said to have overturned while negotiating a bad portion of the road and spilled its contents. Villagers, including children, immediately besieged the scene of the fallen tanker and began to scoop the product.
It was gathered that the victims used every available container,including metals to scoop the fuel and in the process ignited the fire.
“Majority of the victims were burnt beyond recognition, we cannot identify them. We just have to do a mass burial for them,” a source told Daily Sun on phone.
Although the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) was yet to issue a statement as at the time of filing this report (5:20pm), the Niger State chairman of Tanker Drivers and Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) National Ex-Officio, Farouk Mohammed Kawo, confirmed the incident in Minna, saying the tanker left Lagos with petroleum product.
He blamed the accident on the deplorable condition of the road, which rehabilitation work has been ongoing for over 20 years without completion. “Despite its deplorable condition, it is the only accessible road linking the North and the South West at the moment.
Kawo disclosed that no fewer than 30 tanker trailers have been involved in accidents in the last three weeks along the road.
He revealed that a similar crash involving a groundnut oil tanker occurred at the same spot on Sunday.
He pointed out that the youths in the area have continued to scoop fuel from fallen tankers each time an accident occurred, adding, “it’s unfortunate that this very incident has led to loss of lives.”
Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago has condoled with the families of the victims and the entire people of Essa, Katcha LG.
“This is yet another painful, difficult and tragic one for the people and the state government”, he said
He pointed out that it was disheartening how people have continued to approach a fallen tanker to scoop its contents despite several sensitisation on the danger of such action.