5 Dead, Houses Burnt In Petrol Tanker Explosion

A fully loaded petrol tanker today, June 27, exploded at Dabi in Kebbi, killing five people and injuring six others.

The tanker was heading to Mahuta in Kebbi when the driver lost control of the vehicle on the hilly Dabai junction resulting in the fall of the vehicle and subsequent explosion.

The accident also left 12 houses and some vehicles parked by the roadside destroyed by the resultant inferno.

The Dabai-Suru and Dabai-Mahuta road junction also serve as a market, especially for fresh fruits.

The Kebbi deputy governor, who also hails from Dabai, Alhaji Samaila Yombe, was among early visitors to the scene of the accident.

Yombe condoled with relatives of the victims, the Emir of Zuru, Alhaji Sani Sami, the Chairman of Zuru Local Government Area, Alhaji Ibrahim Rumu. He pledged to offset the medical bills of the hospitalized.

The deputy governor said the State Emergency Management Agency had been directed to provide prompt relief material those who lost shops, household property, livestock and food crops to the inferno.

A resident of the area, El-Yakub Dabai, described the incident as unfortunate and hoped authorities would sensitise heavy duty vehicles on how drive through tricky terrain.