MINNA – The Governor of Niger state, Hon. Mohammed Umar Bago has expressed sadness over the loss of 48 persons and undisclosed number of cattle in the tanker accident that occurred along the Agaie road in the early hours of Sunday.
The accident occurred along the Lapai-Agaie road, about 2 kilometers from Dendo community in Agaie Local Government Area of Niger state when a petrol tanker loaded with Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) collided with a trailer truck from the opposite direction carrying suspected cattle dealers and their cattle.
The trailer, said to be transporting the passengers and their livestock all the way from Wudil in Kano state to Lagos, eye witness account said was severely impacted by the collision which resulted in fire outbreak.
Two other vehicles, a crane truck and a pickup open van, were also caught in the inferno which rapidly spread to nearby properties causing destruction of the affected properties leaving trails of devastation.
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Rescue efforts by the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), in collaboration with the Agaie Local Government Emergency Committees (LGEMCs), were immediately launched but could not salvage the situation.
Also, Rapid Response Team (RRT) dispatched to the site to carry out emergency search and recovery operations but it was too late to do anything when they arrived at the scene of the accident.
Due to the charred condition of the bodies trapped in between the vehicles, mass burial was immediately conducted for the victims according to islamic rites as many of them got burnt beyond recognition and difficult for proper identification by the rescuers.
Governor Bago in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Bologi Ibrahim, says he is pained by the unfortunate incident and the colossal loss of lives and properties incurred.
While sympathizing with all those who suffered losses in the incident and families of the bereaved to take the loss as act of destiny, Bago said the state government through the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA) and other relevant organisations were mobilised to the scene of accident for rescue operation but unfortunately little or nothing was recovered.
While appealing for calm among the residents, the Governor prays that Allah will repose the souls of the departed and grant quick recovery to those that sustained varying degrees of injuries.
