- Extend Condolences To Deceased Families, Community Over Losses
From Ben Dunno, Warri
Delta State Commissioner of Police, CP Olufemi Abaniwonda, on Saturday despatched a high powered investigating team to Ometan Community Junction, along the ever-busy Warri-Sapele road in Okpe Local Government area, for an on-the-spot assessment on the cause of accident which led to the fuel tanker fire that claimed seven (7) lives and property in the area.
The investigating team led by Deputy Commissioner of Police, Operations, DCP Aina Adesola, who arrived the accident scene at about 09;27am, took some eye-witnesses account on the tragic occurrence, especially from traders and artisans operating along the highway where the incident occurred at about 10am on Friday.
The team also took time out to engage some community leaders in discussions in order to have a first hand information on the extent of damage the fire incident may have caused in the community and consequences of the destruction on the wellbeing of their people, especially those whose property were directly involved in the inferno.
Speaking with newsmen at the scene of the incident, DCP Aina Adesola, said they were in the area on a fact-finding mission based on the directive of the Commissioner of Police, CP Abaniwonda, in order to ascertain the actual cause of the accident and how the tanker explosion and its devastating consequences occurred.
While commiserating with the families of the deceased and the entire community for the lives and property that were loss during the incident, DCP Adesola, said it is the prayers of the Command that God grants them the fortitude to bear the losses incurred in the inferno.
“My bosss, (CP Abaniwonda), expressed his sincere sympathy with the families who lost their loved ones in this tragic incident and pray God to console each and everyone of them at a time like this. Just as we pray that God replenishes those who lost their property in this unfortunate occurrence”, he stated.
Others with DCP Aina on the visit included; the Sapele Area Commander and DPO Orerokpe. Other aides to the Governor are; Hon. Chief Anthony Onoriode Ofoni, Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on community Development and Hon. Prince Godwin Ejiyeren, Director General (DG) Warri-Uvwie Environs Special Area Development Agency (WEDA) among others.
It would be recalled that fuel tanker on a high speed along Warri-Sapele road at about 10am on Friday had its tanker fell off, consequently leading to an explosion that resulted in the fire outbreak that took the lives of seven persons, including a nursing mother who tried to rescue her three-month-old baby who was trapped in the inferno, was roasted by the fire.
Also, a 16-year-old secondary schoolgirl and her mother who were trapped in their apartment were among the deaths.
Several private and business buildings in the area, including an oil company’s complex and other property and vehicles were also razed by the fire resulting from the explosion.