Petrol Tanker Accident Kills Six Students in Delta

No fewer than six students of the Army Children Primary School, Effurun in Uvwie Local Government Area of Delta State were crushed to death yesterday afternoon by a fuel-laden tanker.

Confirming the incident, the acting Police Public Relations Officer for Delta State Command, DSP Bright Edafe, told journalists that six students were crushed to death, adding that “the number is tentative”.

However, the PPRO could not ascertain the whereabouts of the driver of the ill-fated tanker as of the time of filing this report

THISDAY gathered that the accident occurred at around directly opposite the Gen. David Ejoor Barracks of the Nigerian Army in Effurun near Warri.

Eyewitness confirmed that the students were returning from school when the tanker suddenly ran into them.

Three of the deceased students were said to be siblings.

It was also gathered that some students sustained varying degrees of injuries and were rushed to the nearby Army Hospital inside Effurun Barracks and the Central Hospital, Warri for medical attention.

No fewer than 12 students were rushed to the Central Hospital Warri.

Unconfirmed report said nine of them were dead on arrival while three others were reportedly referred to the Delta State University Teaching Hospital, Oghara, after being stabilised.

The exact number of pupils involved in the accident was yet to be ascertained as of the time of filing this report.

But a joint team of the Nigerian Army, Federal Road Safety Corps and other security agencies were seen making frantic efforts to recover the remaining students trapped under the tanker as a crane was drafted to the scene to pull off the tanker.

Firefighters were also drafted to the scene to prevent a fire outbreak.