8 Die In Tanker Fire In Niger

Eight persons have been confirmed dead in a fire accident involving a petroleum tanker and two Toyota cars in BirninMaza along Lapai-Lambata- Abuja road in Niger state. The accident occurred when the fuel the tanker was conveying began to gush out.

LEADERSHIP Sunday’s findings revealed that the accident occurred on Friday night in the area, about 20 kilometres to Lapai.It was gathered that the two Toyota cars following the tanker in the dilapidated road were gutted by fire when the bottom plate of the cars scratched the road, thereby igniting the fire.

 Findings also revealed that all the six occupants of the two Toyota cars, including the drivers, died at the spot while the villagers who came for rescue were affected in the accident as they sustained various degrees of injuries.

 It was gathered that the driver and the conductor of the tanker and about 18 villagers who sustained high degree injuries were rushed to Federal Medical Centre,Bida, and the Rural Hospital,Lapai, but two of them later died yesterday morning.

Confirming the incident to LEADERSHIP Sunday, Mohammed Shabaof  Niger State Emergency Management Agency,said that eight deaths hadalready been recorded while 20 others have sustained various degrees of injuries.

He stated that those who died at the spot were burnt beyond recognition which necessitated their being buried at the spot and those who sustained injuries were taken for treatments in hospitals at Bida, Minna and Lapai.

Meanwhile, the Emir of Lapai, Alhaji Umar Bago commiserated with the families of those who lost their lives in the accident while praying for those who sustained injuries to have quick recovery.

The Emir who received the officials of the state Emergency Management Agency led by Shaba, commended the Niger state government for the quick response in times of emergency in the state.

Source: Leadership