By Nneka Nwogwugwu
The Benue State Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps, Mr Yakubu Mohammed, has recovered 12 bodies including a baby from the site of Sunday’s petrol tanker explosion at Oshigbudu in Agatu Local Government Area of Benue State.
This was revealed on Monday in Makurdi.
According to him, “the number of deaths as a result of the explosion is 12 but there could be deaths that could be beyond our purview to know but the State Emergency Management Agency, SEMA, or National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, may fish them out.
“You know that the houses that got burnt in the incident will not be classified as crash so when these agencies visit the houses they may discover more corpses from the debris.
“But those involved in the crash were 12. Of the number, eight were males, three females and a child.
“Because of this indictment I want to call on all petroleum tanker owners to ensure the immediate installation of safety valves on their tankers to ensure the safety of lives, property and the products their vehicles convey.
“It is disheartening to see some petroleum tankers still plying the roads without safety valves fixed on them despite the February 2021 deadline earlier issued.
“Any driver caught contravening the standard risks going to jail. Tanker drivers should be safety conscious always and should abide by all safety rules and regulations.
“I assure members of the public that FRSC will not rest on its oars at ensuring discipline on the road. And the command would always be ready to respond promptly to any rescue operations just as we are ready to always partner with all stakeholders to ensure a safer road culture in Benue state.”
