Sylvanus Viashima, Jalingo
Ten persons have been confirmed dead in an auto crash involving a petrol tanker and a trailer in Zing Local Government Area of Taraba State.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, ASP David Missal who confirmed it in Jalingo said the crash which occurred on Wednesday evening also led to the destruction property.
Misal said 20 other persons who sustained injuries were receiving treatment at the General Hospital, Zing and the Federal Medical Center, Jalingo.
“We recovered eight bodies after the accident, but later discovered a burnt corpse inside one of the vehicles; this morning again, one of the injured persons died on his way to Federal Medical Centre, Jalingo making 10 deaths from the accident. I can also confirm that several houses and shops were burnt because the accident happened in a densely populated area, more so that it was on a market day,” he said.
Mr. Nyanshako Ishaya who witnessed the accident said the tanker loaded with premium motor spirit (PMS), which was heading to Yola, Adamawa State crashed into a trailer and burst into flames.
“I saw a man riding on a motorcycle ahead of the tanker telling people to clear off the road saying the tanker had lost its break system. Within a blink of an eye, the tanker had crashed into a moving trailer.
“I saw a pregnant woman and three others burning in the inferno, but I could not help as the fire was too much. I had to run for my life,” he said.
Ishaya who could not ascertain the actually number of death said dozens were killed, adding that the accident happened in the heart of the town on a market day.
He added that several houses, shops, motorcycles and other valuable items were gutted.
The accident is coming few weeks after a truck crushed the state Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Rev. Ben Ubeh to death in the same area.