Residents in Yenagoa the Bayelsa state capital are counting their losses following a petrol tanker that caught fire and exploded on Sunday along the Mbiama-Yenagoa Road at Akenfa-3, burning down a tricycle commonly known as ‘Keke’, two shops, two vehicles and a nearby building.
Speaking to our correspondent, Blessing Dennis who lost her shop and other properties to the inferno said, what is left is the cloth she is putting on and her children.
“Before i come everything my shop everything don burn finish. People money when them give me when I put inside the shop, don go, the only thing wey remain, na the cloth wey dey my body and my children.
Smart Okwoh a landlord said he received a call stating that his structure was affected from the tanker explosion. He however expressed gratitude to God that no life was lost.
“I'm not leaving here, this morning I received a call that my house is burning, so when I reached here, I was told the fire was caused by a tanker, luckily it did not involve any life but it damaged property worth what minions. My problem is that family, people that are living here let government come and help and put everything in order. Then they can invite the owner of the tanker to appear and identify himself.
Let government send people to come and carry the woman with the family first before we talk about the things that was lost.’’
Titus Izibesome whose car got burnt explained that he was driving when his car ran out of fuel and decided to get petrol from the petrol station close by, but was shocked to find out few minutes later that there was an explosion which affected his car.
‘’I was in a hurry, I wanted to go to church but as I was coming as i got to the checkpoint there was hold up there, I sensed that my fuel is about running out so I had to park by the side as I parked by the side, I went to get petrol and when I got there it was at the petrol station I heard the shout so by the time I got here the flame was getting bigger so I couldn't rescue the vehicle. I was parked right opposite where the tanker exploded. I came and saw the condition; God helped me, it didn't burn beyond repair so I'm really grateful to God.
Niger Delta Connect had reported that the spokesperson for the Bayelsa State Police Command, Musa Mohammed, assured the public that there was no cause for alarm. He revealed that the prompt response from the police command and the Federal Fire Service helped prevent a major disaster by swiftly containing the fire.
“The situation is under control. While the tanker and a 'Keke' were caught in the blaze, there were no casualties. Both our men and the Federal Fire Service acted promptly to ensure the safety of all involved,” Mohammed said.
