14 burnt to death as tanker crashes near Abuja

Written by Daily Trust Tuesday, 27 July 2010

Fourteen persons, mostly traders that sell wares in the open Madalla market in Niger State were yesterday burnt to death when a petrol tanker fell on its side and its content caught fire and spread around the area. The accident caused terrible traffic jam as thousands of motorists were stranded along the ever busy Kaduna-Zuba road and could not come in go out of Abuja for several hours due to the serious flame and dark smoke from the burning petrol tanker.

Many motorists had to resort to the Dakwa-Dei-Dei road which is in a terrible state just to avoid the gridlock on Zuba road.

Daily Trust learnt that two other vehicles were burnt to ashes as a result of the accident, which occurred at around 1:00 pm. The affected vehicles were said to be behind the petrol tanker that caught fire.

Eyewitnesses told Daily Trust that the driver of the petrol tanker and his motor boy were among the casualties.

Residents and passersby were deeply shocked and were seen in groups discussing the incident. Some were crying openly.

Reacting, the Niger State Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), Tuma Dalok, confirmed the number of casualties and said the petrol tanker somersaulted while on high speed, which detached the vehicle’s head from the body.

The sector commander said the tanker caught fire, which consumed mostly people selling items around the area, adding that the obstruction which caused heavy traffic jam has been cleared by a combined team of FRSC, police and civil defence officials.
Zonal Coordinator, FCT, of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) Ishaya Isa Chonoko also told Daily Trust that about 10 people were killed as a result of the accident.