Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, has commiserated with the families of victims who died in a tanker explosion at Koko junction along the Warri–Benin expressway in Warri North Local Government Area of the state.
It was gathered that no fewer than eight people were burnt beyond recognition while seven others were injured in the incident which occurred in the early hours of Sunday, October 1, 2023.
The explosion was said to have occurred after a spark from a faulty vehicle while the victims were scooping fuel that spilled from the tanker.
Speaking on the incident via a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Festus Ahon, the governor said the Delta State Emergency Management Agency, led by the Commissioner for Special Duties, Ejiro Terry, was already at the scene to provide help and support for the victims.
Governor Oborevwori, who blamed the incident on the poor state of federal roads, called on the federal government to expedite action in reconstructing failed portions of the Warri–Benin expressway.
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He said citizens of the state and commuters encounter harrowing experiences navigating the road, calling on the authorities to as a matter of utmost importance and urgency fix the road to avoid further incidents.
Oborevwori also warned the people of Delta State against taking the risk of attempting to scoop fuel from a fallen tanker, adding that it was a time bomb waiting to explode.
The governor said: “In the early hours of today, we got information that an explosion occurred at Koko junction along the Warri-Benin expressway.
“On behalf of the government and people of Delta State, I commiserate with families of the victims who lost their lives to the inferno.
“This sad and unfortunate incident would have been avoided if the federal government had lived up to their responsibility of maintaining their roads.
“While I mourn the deceased, I use this medium to reiterate my earlier call on the Federal Government to save the lives of our people from these harrowing experiences.
“I also use this medium to advise our people to refrain from the dangerous act of scooping fuel from a fallen tanker because of the highly inflammable nature of the product.”
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