The death toll from a petrol tanker explosion after a head-on collision with another articulated vehicle has risen to 59.
The incident happened on Sunday along Lapai-Agaie, 2km from Dendo Community in Agaie LGA, Niger State when the petrol tanker was involved in a head-on collision with another trailer transporting over 60 people and 50 cows from Kano to Lagos.
The Niger State Emergency Management Agency, Director General, Abdullahi Baba-Arab, made this known on Monday in a statement.
Baba-Arab said more dead bodies may be discovered in the process of continued evacuation.
“The death toll has risen to 59. We lost one of the injured with first-degree burns at the Federal Medical Centre Bida.
“Two locals were taken to a village nearby for burial, and the rest was discovered during evacuation. It’s also possible that more dead bodies could be discovered in the process of the continued evacuation,” Baba-Arab stated.
The Niger State Federal Road Safety Commission, sector commander, Kumar Tsukwam, in his remark on Monday, said the petrol tanker which was coming from Lagos was at high speed and lost brake when the accident occurred.
“The tanker from Lagos on transit to Kano loaded with Fuel was on top speed, lost control, fell down and engulfed with fire. Another trailer that conveyed cows and humans was consequently affected and two other vehicles were behind. All the 4 vehicles got burnt to ashes.
“It was gathered that the trailer that conveyed humans and cows was alerted by one of his passengers of the fire at their front but in response, the driver said it was just a mere tyre that was burning.
“On reaching the engulfed tanker immediately the trailer was also engulfed and consequently the two other vehicles were engulfed leading to the death of 35 persons instantly and two others injured died at the hospital totalled 37,” he said.
During a phone call with PUNCH on Monday, Tsukwam who spoke said all the dead cows were burnt. He disclosed that when the FRSC team got to the scene they found some people who were already cutting the legs of two of the cows to sell.
He said, “The cows were burnt. There were two of the cows that were cutting the legs, you know these marabou they were already cutting the legs so, it was advised that all the cows be burnt. To avoid another epidemic there. The marabouts wanted to take them and start selling.”
