•How 13 were killed in Plateau tanker fire •It’s unfortunate –Mutfwang, gov-elect
From Gyang Bere, Jos
Residents of Bauchi Road in Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State will not forget Thursday, April 27, 2023, in a hurry. That day, a tanker conveying petroleum products crashed and burst into flames. At least 13 persons were burnt beyond recognition.
Among those who died in the unfortunate inferno were passengers trapped inside vehicles preparing to take off to Bauchi State, while some were smashed by the tanker inside tricycles and motorcycles.
The ugly incident occured on Thursday by 2pm when the tanker was negotiating a bend to Bauchi State and the head of the vehicle disengaged from the body filled with diesel, sending it hurtling uncontrollably down the road before crashing into vehicles.
More than 10 vehicles, three tricycles and two motorcycles were burnt beyond repair, while hoodlums descended on the rescue team of the Federal Road Safety Corpse (FRSC) and burnt their patrol van, leaving the driver and one officer severely injured.
It took the intervention of FRSC officials, police, rescue team of the Jama’atu Nasiru Islam and sympathizers who worked hard to rescue some injured persons, who are now recuperating at the Plateau Specialist Hospital, Jos, and Ola Hospital, among other health facilities in the state.
The bodies, which were buent beyond recognition were conveyed to the morgue of Plateau Specialist Hospital, while efforts are on to identify the dead.
Adam Jubrin, who sold traditional medicine at the junction, escaped dead narrowly. He explained that he stepped out from his shop shortly before the incident that left scores of dead.
Jubrin said more than 10 shops, vehicles, motorcycles and tricycles were consumed and expressed joy that none of the shop owners perished in the inferno.
He said: “What happened on Thursday afternoon was an unfortunate incident involving a truck conveying fuel that had brake failure and the driver tried to control the car but it eventually crashed.
“The head of the truck pulled out, leaving the body filled with fuel. It exploded into flames and burnt commercial vehicles parked on the road with passengers beyond control. It was the passengers who boarded the vehicles that were consumed by the fire.
“The fire also burnt shops located along the road, including a clinic, a shop housing electrical equipment and another with furniture materials, among others. The most joyful thing is that all those selling in the shops escaped unhurt.
“Sadly, I could not count the number of people that died in the tragic inferno because the lifeless bodies were piled up at the front of a mosque around the area. They were burnt beyond recognition but the bodies were more than 10.”
Jubrin Abubakar, another resident of the area who witnessed the inferno, said they were working on that fateful afternoon when he heard people screaming and shouting, asking people around to run for their life. When he turned around, he saw a truck in flames rushing towards where commercial vehicles were parked.
“When I stood up, I saw a truck smashing vehicles with passengers; we took to our heels from the scene, leaving behind our vehicles, shoes and other valuables, which were burnt beyond repair,” he said.
Yet another witness, Aminu Bala Yusuf, a driver who escaped narrowly, explained what led to the incident, “The driver of the truck conveying petroleum products parked to pump his tyres but, unfortunately, the truck was not in gear. When he came out of the vehicle, it started rolling down.
“Before he got in to apply the brakes, it was too late for him to do that and he was unable to control the vehicle, which crashed into flames that led to loss of lives.”
Plateau State police commissioner, Bartholomew Onyeka, who visited the scene, sympathised with the bereaved families and the people of Jos North Local Government Area over the unfortunate incident and prayed for quick recovery of the injured.
He said: “It was on Thursday, April 27 2023, at about 1:30pm when we got information of a trailer that was loaded with dissel, coming from town and headed to Bauchi axis. On getting to the Bauchi junction, the head of the truck went off while the body crashed.
“When the body of truck, which contained diesel, fell down, it quickly ignited fire and you can see that about eight vehicles were burnt, six tricycles and two motorcycles were equally burnt. A vehicle belonging to the FRSC that was here on a rescue mission was burnt.
“About 13 persons were burnt beyond recognition; 10 people who were injured are receiving treatment in various hospitals in the state. When a situation like this happens, I don’t see the need attacking the security agencies that have come to assist; everybody should turn to be a social worker at this point and not attack people.”
He condemned the attack on FRSC officials who came to the scene to assist in evacuating the injured to hospital and the dead bodies to ensure free flow of traffic.
“We want to call on the good people of Plateau State, this is not good at all and we should all condemn it, because this will not take us to anywhere. We are working round the clock to ensure the entire state is protected and people are by the side trying to create more problems for us.
“We shout try at all times to be law-abiding in whatever condition or situation we find ourselves. I call on the religious leaders and the stakeholders in the state to always talk to their children, the youths and their dependents to shun what has just happened because it will not take us to any where,” he said.
Plateau State governor-elect, Caleb Mutfwang, a lawyer, was greatly saddened over the unfortunate incident that involved a tanker conveying petroleum products along Bauchi Road, in Jos North Local Government Area of the state, which led to loss of lives and properties.
Mutfwang, in a statement signed by his special assistant on media, Gyang Bere, said he was heartbroken to note that the tanker, which burst into flames, burnt beyond recognition some yet-to-be identified individuals while some vehicles and tricycles also perished in the inferno.
He described the incident as unfortunate and commiserated with the bereaved families and prayed fervently for the healing and speedy recovery of those who sustained various degrees of injuries.
The governor-elect sympathised with the people of Jos North Local Government Area over the incident and prayed God to avert any a recurrence.
He reassured the citizens of the commitment of his administration to reorganise the city centre to provide a conducive atmosphere for businesses to flourish and ensure free flow of traffic.