Petrol tanker explodes kills five, injures 6 in Kebbi

A fully-loaded petrol tanker on Saturday 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 its fall and subsequent explosion.

The accident also left 12 houses and some vehicles parked by the roadside destroyed. The Dabai-Suru and Dabai- Mahuta road junction also serves as a market, especially for fresh fruits.

 The Kebbi Deputy Governor, Alhaji Samaila Yombe, who hails from Dabai, was among early visitors to the scene of the accident. Yombe condoled with relatives of the victims, the Emir of Zuru, Alhaji Sani Sami and the Chairman of Zuru Local Government Area, Alhaji Ibrahim Rumu. He pledged to offset the medical bills of the hospitalised.

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

 A resident of the area, Mallam El-Yakub Dabai, described the accident as unfortunate and hoped authorities would sensitise drivers o f heavy duty vehicles on how drive through tricky terrain. (NAN)