2 die, 15 houses burnt in Kaduna tanker fire
The Kaduna State Emergency Management Agency said yesterday that two people died while 15 houses and 52 rooms were burnt in Thursday’s petrol tanker accident off Zaria-Sokoto Road in Shika, Giwa Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
The agency said Governor Nasir El’rufai had directed that immediate relief materials be distributed to victims.
The agency’s Director, Relief and Supply, Ya’u Muhammed, confirmed the figures in Kaduna yesterday. Ya’u said they visited the scene of the accident immediately soon after the report reached them Thursday.
“We responded immediately by visiting the scene to sympathise with the victims on behalf of Governor Nasir El’rufai,” he said.
Ya’u said based on the information gathered on the scene the tanker driver tried to dodge a pothole when he lost control of the vehicle and it veered off the road and tumbled with gas in it.
He said staff of the agency had already left for the town to deliver the relief materials as directed by the governor.
He urged residents to always alert the agency on time for quick response. ‘How we survived Zaria tanker inferno’ Some residents of the area close to the scene have been recounting their ordeal while expressing gratitude to God for surviving the accident.
The driver and his boy were burnt beyond recognition, but none of the residents died, making them to be thankful to God despite losing property.
Malam Bala Tanimu Shika, one of those that lost their houses to the accident, said: “I was taking bath when I heard the sound of the crash and subsequently I saw the raging flames. The tanker crashed right at the entrance of my house. I rushed out of the bathroom with only towel on. Some good Samaritans assisted me with Babban Riga to cover myself.
“We are thankful to Allah for surviving the accident, as no life was lost but property worth millions of naira. One of the houses burnt was only completed recently. Most of us here are farmers and some of the households lost their entire harvests for this year to the fire,” he said.
Shika appealed to the state government to assist them to resettle.
He added; “The fire did not leave anything for some of us, even what to eat right now has been consumed. We are calling on the government to come to our aid. The government should also expedite action to repair roads in order to prevent this type of sad occurrence.”
Isa Mohammed, a fire officer with the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, said they went to the scene to render a helping hand, adding, “But some of the residents became violent and were threatening us that we did not come on time. We struggled our way from Kongo campus to the scene because of traffic gridlock and distance. We only went there on humanitarian ground as it is not our responsibility. I think people should change their attitude towards firemen.”
Mohammed Aliyu Lawal of the Kaduna State Fire Service, Zaria, confirmed the death of the two persons, saying their prompt intervention saved the situation.