From Noah Ocheni, Lokoja.
It was another black Wednesday for the people Ankpa when over twenty persons were said to have been burnt to death after a petrol Tanker accident.
A tanker, with a full load of PMS, (petrol) was said to have lost contrrol due to break failure and fell on the bridge of maboro river, old Alede road in Ankpa, the headquarters of Ankpa local government in kogi state.
An eyewitness said the incident which happened around 3.30pm on wednesday brought the number of such ugly incident to two within a month in Ankpa.
He said the situation is not clear as to the numbers of death, saying some were burnt beyond recognition and body parts and debris of cars liters in the area greatly.
“Nobody knows the number of dead people now. Many People were in the river doing one thing or the other when the tanker lost contrrol, fell and exploded on the bridge. It’s horrible. The most horrorful scene I have ever seen in my life”, said Usman Ahmed.
Yet, another person from the town, who craved anonimity stated that “it’s the second major disaster in Ankpa within this month. This one is the most terrible and horrible . Over twenty persons were burnt to death, some beyond recognition”.
He added many who were “crushed to death had their body parts scattered all over the place”, adding that such ” parts had to be picked in bits and pieces in body bags”.
The kogi State FRSC Sector Commander, Commander Stephen Dawulung confirmed the incident ,saying the number of casaulty cannot be established for now .
“‘My boys are there, putting the pieces together. We don’t know the number of dead yet. A tanker , one bus and three cars, three motorcycles were involved”, he said.
