Fresh petrol tanker disaster in Nigeria

Okafor Ofiebor/Port Harcourt

Another petrol tanker fire disaster has been recorded in the border town between Nigeria’s Rivers and Bayelsa states.

Two persons, one of them a 60-year-old woman have been confirmed dead in the raging fire that the fallen tanker, ignited.

About 10 persons sustained burns, while over 20 houses and 10 cars were burnt in the resulting explosion.

The accident happened at Mbiama, Ahoada West local Government area, along the hellish road called East-West road, that links the oil producing states of Nigeria.

Witnesses said the petrol tanker fell and exploded while trying to meander through the gullies embedded on the road.

The Unit Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, in Ahoada in Rivers State,Mr. Edwin Theophilus, confirmed that the injured persons have been rushed to the hospital for medical attention.

It was learnt that the fire fighters from Yenagoa, Bayelsa state capital, that is about 30 minutes drive, arrived late to the scene eliciting angry reactions from residents, who chased them away.

On July 12, 2012,a similar incident occurred at Okogbe community in Ahoada West local government area in Rivers State, killing 200 people. Most of the dead had attempted to scoop fuel from a fallen petrol tanker along the deplorable road.

Governor Chibuike Amaechi, Governor of Rivers State, sacked Mr Emeka Wogu, the Commissioner of Special Duties about two weeks ago, partly because he failed to equip the fire stations in Rivers adequately for emergency work.