From Tony Osauzo, Benin
Conflicting reports claim that between two and five persons lost their lives in the fuel tanker fire incident at Oluku in Edo State, but the State Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps, Preye Ezekiel Bedford, said no death had been recorded so far.
As of late yesterday evening, he said his men, the police, military personnel and both Federal and State Fire Services were still at the scene of the incident.
“I got to the scene, I saw the situation. I want to thank the soldiers, the policemen that came there. Up till now the military, fire service, tanker are still working there. The Edo State fire tanker is still there, then the Federal Fire Service truck is still there, still trying to put out the little part of the fire that is remaining,” he said.
Confronted with information in some quarters that some persons died, the road safety boss said: “Well, for now we’ve not gotten any information on that, and I think while they’re still doing that during the clearing of – evacuating of the debris, we might get – if it is true, we might get to know about it.”
On those rushed to the hospital, Bedford said: “…for casualty level, I think what I have just gotten now is just 10 casualties.”
He said “the habit of trying to scoop fuel is unbecoming,” adding “Today’s own, even with the presence of the soldiers and all the rest, they were driving them, when you drive some of them, some would turn around, and they were equally even attacking the military people, attacking all the personnel. The road safety and all the rest, fire service they were equally attacking them.
“And so, I think we still need more of enlightenment, and which we’re doing and we’ll still carry out the enlightenment from town hall, meetings, and churches and all the rest, we’ll keep preaching this,” Bedford said.