Police confirm 7 dead, 15 injured while scooping petrol from tanker

The police in Adamawa have confirmed that seven persons were burnt to dead, while scooping petrol from a tanker involved in an accident at Ganigaku Village, Demsa Local Government Area of Adamawa.

Police spokesperson for the state, Nemuel Yoila, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Yola that 15 others sustained various degrees of burn and were receiving treatment in Numan and Ngurore hospitals.
He described the incident, which occurred on Sunday as unfortunate, adding that the police tried to keep the people away from scooping fuel from the ill fated tanker, but to no avail.
A cross section of residents of the area who commented on the incident, expressed regret that some Nigerians were yet to come to terms with the dangers involved in scooping petrol.
“We have experienced several of such incidents in the past when fire from petrol killed many people across the country, but people still continue to make such costly mistake.
“Though petrol is still scarce in the state, with a litre going for N150 in the black market, it is not enough reason for the people to risk their lives,” Yusuf Musam, a resident of the village told NAN.
In her reaction, Saratu Ibrahim stressed the need to use the services of traditional and religious leaders to sensitise the people on the dangers of scooping petrol from tankers involved in accident.
“People need to know that the first thing to do is to keep a safe distance from such petrol tankers involved in accident, which is similar to a bomb waiting to explode,” Ms. Ibrahim said.