Emma Elekwa, Onitsha
ANOTHER tanker loaded with petrol fell on Thursday in Onitsha, spilling its content and bringing back memories of a similar event barely two weeks ago in Anambra State’s commercial capital. In the earlier incident, which occurred in the Upper Iweka area of the city where the popular Ochanja Market is located, four persons were killed and property worth millions of Naira burnt in the fire that engulfed the area as the tanker exploded.
The Nation gathered that in the latest incident, the tanker fell around 1pm on the Onitsha/Enugu Expressway near a petrol station.
A witness said residents of the area scampered for safety following the spilling of the tanker’s inflammable content.
Police spokesman Haruna Mohammed confirmed the incident, saying the tanker crashed into the gutter due to brake failure, adding that the vehicle was coming from Benin and travelling to Enugu.
Mohammed said commuters were advised to use other routes.
He said, “A tanker loaded with PMS just fell into a ditch along Onitsha/Enugu Expressway by Chipex Filling station. The PMS is spilling out at the time of making this report. It is highly advisable you alert residents in the area through your medium to steer clear of the area in order to prevent any disaster.
“Police patrol teams have cordoned the area and Fire Service Department was equally contacted to be on standby in order to prevent fire incident.”
Mohammed said the driver, who immediately fled after the tanker fell, has been arrested. A resident told The Nation that a dog sniffed out the driver where he was hiding.
Mohammed said the Commissioner of Police John B. Abang headed straight to the scene for assessment.
“The CP just landed at the Asaba Airport after the Police retreat in Lagos which ended this morning.
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No life was lost in the Thursday incident.
But on Monday, there was wailing at Ochanja Market following the appearance of banners and posters of those who lost their lives in the earlier fire incident.
Commissioner for Housing Michael Okonkwo and Chairman, Physical Planning Board Chike Maduekwe led their teams to assess the extent of damage to buildings and shops.
Victims of the incident and their customers freely expressed emotions as they beheld the banners of the deceased.
The names of the traders that lost their lives in the inferno as contained in the posters were Mrs Ngozi Sarah, Mr Aloysius Odome and Chief Michael Izuegbu.
Traders and their customers were seen recounting their last encounters with their dead colleagues and customers shortly before the incident took place.
They appealed to the state government to assuage their pains by assisting the deceased families.
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