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A gas tanker explosion on Sunday in Oshigbudu-Obagaji, Agatu local Government Area of Benue State, has claimed eight lives and no fewer than 16 houses burnt, the state police command confirmed on Monday.
“One of the occupants of the tanker who survived the incident has been conveyed to General Hospital Otukpo where he is currently receiving treatment”, Catherine Anene, a Deputy Superintendent of Police and spokesperson for the police command said in a statement in Makurdi.
She said the tanker which was conveying Disel from Otukpo town to Abuja through Oweto-Abuja road, lost control and fell in front of a shop at Oshogbudu in Agatu Local Government Area and was engulfed by fire.
A witness gave a graphic account of how the incident occurred, saying the tanker fully loaded with fuel fell at the Oshigbudu-Obagaji junction, spilling its content as it moved towards a filling station along Oweto axis before billowing in flames, triggering pandemonium in Oshigbudu community.
The fire spread to adjoining houses and shops located close to the petrol station destroying them as well as several vehicles parked by the roadside.
It was gathered that efforts were made to contact the Otukpo Fire Service to put off the fire but their vehicle broke down, making the situation helpless.
The state police command said its personnel had been deployed to the scene to control the extent of damage in collaboration with residents of the community
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