From Jude Owuamanam, Jos
Many people sustained varying degrees of burns and shops razed to ashes when a tanker caught fire at Vowi, Maraba Jama’a Roundabout, in Kuru, Jos South Local Government Area of Plateau State.
The incident came less than a week after 12 people were confirmed dead while 30 others sustained injuries in an accident involving a truck at the Hawan-Kibo community in Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State.
The articulated vehicle, it was gathered, was loaded with bags of grains with human beings sitting on top and was descending the dreaded Hawan Kibo hill on a dilapidated part when it crashed into a ditch. It was further gathered that the trailer spilled its contents in the ditch, leaving many of the victims dead on the spot.
In the case of the tanker fire, it was gathered that the tanker, laden with industrial chemicals, was about to negotiate the Mararaban Jema’a roundabout when it caught fire.
Public Relations Officer of the Federal Roads Service Corps, Mr. Yakubu Longsan, who confirmed the incident, said no life was lost in the incident that happened early yesterday morning, but that many people sustained injuries and many shops were burnt when the tanker suddenly caught fire.
He said, “It was a lone accident. The driver was trying to negotiate the roundabout when it suddenly caught fire and spilled its contents along the road and the fire spread to adjoining shops.”
However, Governor Caleb Mutfwang has expressed deep sympathy to the victims of the tanker fire disaster.
In a press statement in Jos, signed by the Director, Press Affairs, Bere Gyang, Mutfwang described the sad incident as unfortunate and sympathised with citizens who lost their shops with property as a result of the fire disaster.
The governor appealed to motorists in the state to exercise caution and maximum restrain with regards to speeding and overloading, particularly at this festive period where there are high levels of activities. He said it was better to arrive very late than end up as a victim of a fatal crash. He reaffirmed the commitment of his administration to provide a conducive and peaceful atmosphere for all citizens to carry out their lawful duties.
Mutfwang expressed his heartfelt sympathy to those who sustained injuries and prayed to God Almighty to grant them quick healing and provide for those who lost their property.