"Niger State Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago offered his deepest condolences to the people of Essa in the Katcha local government area, where he said in a statement the tanker explosion claimed many lives and left several others injured. The governor's chief press secretary, Bologi Ibrahim, added in the statement that several of the people who were caught up in the explosion had approached the tanker after it turned on its side, to try to retrieve its contents."
"The chairman of the Niger State tanker drivers' association, Farouk Mohammed Kawo, said that the tragedy was devastating and avoidable, according to Channels Television. The tanker was transporting petrol from Lagos in northern Nigeria when it crashed, Kawo said, adding that some 30 crashes have been recorded on the same route in the month of October alone, and that the high rate of accidents is due to the deplorable state of the road."
A fuel tanker overturned and exploded in Essa, Katcha local government area of Niger State, killing at least 35 people and injuring several others. The vehicle skidded off the road, spilled petrol, and the fuel ignited shortly after the crash. Many injured victims were taken to the Federal Medical Centre Bida with reports of severe burns. Several people approached the overturned tanker to retrieve fuel before the explosion. State governor Mohammed Umaru Bago expressed condolences. Local tanker drivers' chairman Farouk Mohammed Kawo called the tragedy avoidable and blamed the deplorable condition of the road; about 30 crashes were recorded on the route in October alone. Widespread road transport of fuel and poor road maintenance increase such risks.
Read at www.aljazeera.com
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