Tanker Explosion Claims Lives of Driver and Conductor

Two men tragically lost their lives on Sunday due to an explosion from a tanker located opposite the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) office along the Ihiala-Onitsha Road in the Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State.

Bridget Asekhauno, the Sector Commander of the FRSC in Anambra, confirmed the incident to journalists in Awka.

According to Asekhauno, the incident involved a commercial tanker that lacked a registration number, which was transporting flammable materials along with a motorcycle, also unregistered.

Eyewitness accounts revealed that the driver of the tanker, who was reportedly speeding, lost control and collided with a roadside barricade, triggering an explosion that also impacted a motorcycle that was following closely.

The explosion resulted in the deaths of both the tanker driver and his conductor, while the motorcyclist sustained injuries and was subsequently rescued.

A total of three male adults were involved in the accident, leading to two fatalities, while one injured individual was transported to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Ihiala for medical assistance.

The sector commander explained that the FRSC rescue teams, supported by the fire service, reacted quickly to the situation and succeeded in extinguishing the fire. She extended her condolences to the families of the deceased and emphasized the need for motorists to strictly adhere to speed limits and stay vigilant while driving to prevent similar tragedies.

Recent months have seen an alarming rise in fatal road accidents across Nigerian highways. For instance, in September of the previous year, at least 12 individuals were killed in a road accident on the Owerri-Onitsha Expressway in Imo State.

Moreover, on November 28 of last year, six individuals lost their lives in a collision between a bus and a truck near the Nawfia axis on the Awka-Onitsha Expressway in Anambra. Another tragic incident on November 22 claimed five lives along the Lapai-Suleja Road in Niger State when a truck collided with a passenger vehicle, injuring thirty-four others.

On October 18, six people were killed in a road accident near the Nkalagu Flyover on the Nkalagu-Enugu Expressway in Ebonyi State when a commercial bus collided with a truck.