Scores Feared Dead As Fuel Tanker Explodes In Benue

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Scores of people have been feared dead in Oshigbudu community, Agatu Local Government Area of Benue State, following a tanker explosion, Sunday evening.

It was gathered that a tanker conveying Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) also known as Petrol lost its balance and fell on the road while spilling its content.

The incident reportedly happened at Oshigbudu, which is about 4 to 5-hour drive from Makurdi, the capital of Benue State.

From an eyewitness account, the explosion occured after the tanker spilled its content. The content was said to have gushed out through a filling station along the Oshigbudu-Obagaji road.

Many houses and properties in part of the community were reportedly destroyed in the incident.

The Vice Chairman of the Agatu LGA, John Ikwulono confirmed the incident. According to the vice chairman, many people lost their lives to the explosion.

He, however, couldn’t ascertain the number of deaths recorded as of press time, but he confirmed that scores of fatalities were recorded and several people sustained injuries.

Similarly, the Executive Secretary of the State Emergency Management Agency (EMA), Dr Emmanuel Shior has also confirmed the incident.

He noted that the incident happened at his local government of origin. He, however, assured the resident that the fire fighters are on top of the situation, adding that there is no need for panic.

He was quoted to have said: “The inferno at Oshugbudu in Agatu local Government, my local government of origin today, 18-04-2021 which has claimed so many lives and destroyed properties yet to be quantified, is the Chief of all the calamities that have fallen us this year.

“As I pray  God to comfort the good people of Agatu and most especially those directly involved, over the lost, I wish to call on Government at all levels and spirited individuals to come to our aids in order to drastically reduce the effect of the disaster on the people. Once again may God grant us the fortitude to bear the huge loss.”

Abiola Olawale
Abiola Olawale
'Dotun Akintomide's journalism works intersect business, environment, politics and developmental issues. Among a number of local and international publications, his work has appeared in the New York Times. He's a winner of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Award. Currently, the Online Editor at The New Diplomat, Akintomide has produced reports that uniquely spoke to Nigeria's experience on Climate Change issues. When Akintomide is not writing, volunteering or working on a media project, you can find him seeing beautiful sites like the sandy beaches that bedecked the Lagos coastline.

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