Twelve persons were feared dead on Sunday when a tanker laden with petrol exploded at Oshigbudu village in Agatu Local Government Area of Benue State in north-central Nigeria.
It was gathered that the petrol tanker fell at the Oshigbudu-Obagaji junction, spilled its contents and exploded.
Local media reports said that the Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Benue State, Mr. Yakubu Mohammed, explained that the tanker lost control and crashed.
According to Mohammed, eight males, three females and a little boy died as a result of the fire from the tanker crash.
Although he could not confirm the number of houses burnt as a result of the accident, but the officer said that FRSC operatives and other sister agencies were already working to evacuate the casualties and control the situation.
However, there are unconfirmed reports that more than 100 houses around the vicinity were burnt by the fire.
Meanwhile, the Benue State Governor, Mr. Samuel Ortom has ordered government officials and those of the State Emergency Management Agency to visit the scene and take stock of the casualties and the emergency needs and relief for the victims of the accident.
Petrol tanker fire is not uncommon on Nigerian roads due mainly to poor condition of the roads and reckless driving habits of many unlicensed young truck drivers.
GIK/APA