Jos tanker explosion kill 13 persons, destroy 28 shops, others – Police

 

DANIEL DAUDA, Jos

 

No fewer than 13 people were reportedly burnt beyond recognition when a tanker loaded with diesel crashed and burst into flames along Bauchi Junction in Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State.

Our correspondent gathered that the incident occurred at about 1:30 pm on Thursday 27th April, left about 10 people with injuries, 8 vehicles,  6 tricycles and 2 motorcycles burnt while properties worth millions of naira were consumed by the inferno.

It was learned that the tanker, which was heading to Bauchi State, loaded with diesel, lost control as the body separated from the front side while the rear containing gas eventually fell and caught fire instantly.

It was also observed that a vehicle belonging to Federal Road Safety Corp (FRSC) that was on the scene of the incident for a rescue mission got burnt reportedly by angry youths.

Speaking to newsmen on Friday after inspecting the accident scene, the Commissioner of Police Plateau State Command, CP Bartholomew Onyeka sympathized with the family of victims and condemned the attack on FRSC personnel.

He said: “In a situation like this when something happened I don’t see the need to attack the security agencies that have come to assist. I think everybody should turn to be a social worker at this point and not attack somebody.

“This is the FRSC vehicle that has been burnt. The driver also sustained injury. We should all be reasonable and think twice…what is the role of FRSC in an event of such magnitude and accident that have just taken place whereby 13 people were burnt beyond recognition and others got injuries and hospitalized.

“Their coming to this very place is to assist, rescue people, and take them to hospital but instead people resorted to attacking them. What do we gain from this kind of inhuman act? We should all condemn it anywhere…

“We’re working round the clock ensuring that the entire state is protected and then people are there by the side trying to create more problems for us,  it is not fair. Let us for once try to be law-abiding in whatever condition or situation we find ourselves.

“I am calling on the religious leaders, the stakeholders in the state to always talk to their wards, most especially the youths to shun what has happened because it will not take us anywhere”, the CP advised.

 

As Governor-elect consoles families of victims

 

Mr. Caleb Mutfwang, the Governor-elect of Plateau, has commiserated with families who lost their loved ones in the Thursday tanker explosion in Jos.

Mutfwang in a statement on Friday in Jos, expressed sadness over the incident that also led to the loss of properties worth millions of naira.

 

The statement was signed by GyangBere, the governor-elect’s Special Assistant on Media.

 

‘“This incident is unfortunate and we deeply commiserate with the bereaved families and pray for the speedy recovery of those who sustained various degrees of injuries.

 

“We also sympathise with the entire people of Jos North Local Government Area, over the incident, and pray that God averts such in future,” he said.

 

The governor-elect assured citizens of the incoming administration’s commitment to restructuring the state towards providing more roads for the free flow of traffic in Jos and its environs.

 

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Police Command in Plateau announced that so far 10 persons had died, three vehicles and two tricycles were destroyed, following the incident. (NAN)

 

 

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