An inferno that occurred on Sunday in Benue state has destroyed scores of lives and over 100 houses.
NatureNews gathered that a tanker conveying petroleum product exploded at Oshigbudu in Agatu Local Government Area of Benue State.
A source in the area who spoke to Vanguard, said that the tanker laden with petrol was travelling from Oweto and heading towards Otukpo when the driver lost control of the truck and it fell, spilling its content at the Oshigbudu/Obagaji junction.
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According to him, “the whole thing happened suddenly and when the truck fell, the petrol spilt into people’s houses and a nearby petrol station and there was a huge explosion.
“Many houses are currently on fire and most of those living in those houses did not escape because of the manner the accident happened.”
Confirming the development, Vice Chairman of Agatu Local Government Area, Mr John Ikwulono, said, “It was a tanker explosion and over 100 houses in the community have been burnt down and many lives have been lost.
“Though we cannot place a figure on the number of deaths, they are much. The truth is that the death toll will be massive because you know that in a house you might have up to 10 persons if not more than that.
“And the houses that were burnt down are more than 100. So in each of the houses, there must be a human being living or staying there.
‘’There is no way a house can be empty on a Sunday like this. So we have a huge crisis in our hands at the moment.’’
The state Fire Service Director, Donald Ikyaaza, said he just received the report but explained that the area (Oshigbudu) “is very far from the state capital.” He stated that the department did not have a substation in Otukpo, but noted that the fire service in Otukpo was owned by the Federal Government.
