Within the early hours of Monday, July 1, 2019 news broke out of a tanker explosion in Benue State which led to the loss of several lives and sustaining of injury on tens of commuters on the Benue-Abuja highway.
A group of Men and women from Yala Local Government Area of Cross River State, who were returning from a burial of the Father of one of its club members in a chattered bus were part of the victims of the unfortunate incident yesterday.
Independent investigation into the matter has exposed the callous and reckless nature of the driver of the vehicle one Mr Friday (taking refuge some in Ogoja). His 18 seater vehicle was chattered by the club from Abuja to Yala and to convey them back to Abuja, before leaving Yala, the drive insisted on carrying goods not belonging to the group members in other to make extra cash but they (group members) sternly refused to let him have his way since it was a chattered vehicle an action which left him visibly angry.
The driver after been refused to have his way at the park before commencement of the journey drove recklessly throughout the journey a survivor recounted.
According to an eyewitness, one Mr Tangban, said on his approaching Ahumbe village in Gwer LGA, where the fire incident took place, other drivers who heard of the fallen tanker ahead stopped their vehicle to avoid been consumed by the inferno, Friday was said to have been stopped severally but he insisted he was going to 'dodge the inforno', this led to an uproar by his passengers, many of whom were women and are now dead but again he refused to stop the vehicle.
Few meters close to the explosion, the passengers had no option but to find their way off the vehicle, a few of them who were in the front seat and the second roll of the car managed to escape with severe injuries while four women who were seated behind the vehicle were consumed beyond recognition by the fire.
Further inquiry into the incident revealed that the victims were rushed to a hospital in Alade village but the hospital rejected the victims due to lack of facilities to threat them, they were later transferred to St Theresa Hospital, Makurdi where the survivors are still battling for their lives.
A mother of four and wife of a drycleaner, Mr Ojugbo Amama (aka Ekule), who herself is into food vendor business in Karmo, a popular suburb town in Abuja, FCT, was among other passengers who got burnt to death.
Also one Ms Gladys Riwo who was in the vehicle is said to be the most affected and according to the hospital management, she and two others will need urgent surgical procedures abroad if they will make it through.
The driver of the vehicle, Mr Friday is said to have absconded and currently taking refuge somewhere in Ogoja. Relatives of victims of the sad incident have called for his immediate arrest.
A singular act of carelessness from Friday has led to the avoidable death of over 10 persons from yala, a total of about 50 persons has so far been reported dead and 70 others injured.
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