Police in Anambra State have confirmed that one person died in the Tuesday tanker’s explosion, while two others sustained varying degrees of injuries and four vehicles were burnt.
The command image maker, SP Haruna Mohammed in a statement made available to Daily Trust in Awka, Anambra state capital on Tuesday said that one Monday Ayo Adenipekun, popularly known as AY, aged about 35years, who was working on top of the Tanker without number plate was burnt to death .
According to him, a male cobbler and a woman whose identities are yet to be ascertained, sustained varying degrees of burns and they were immediately rushed to the Preston Hospital, Ngozika Housing Estates for treatment, while Ayo Adenipekun burnt body has been evacuated and deposited at the Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital Mortuary for autopsy.
He also disclosed that a total number of four vehicles including two Tankers, one Tipper and one Toyota Camry were affected by the inferno.
“Preliminary investigation revealed that the exploded tanker was brought into the workshop for welding no sooner than it had discharged fuel. The residual fuel in the tank was eventually ignited during the welding,” Mohammed said.
He also stated that the state Commissioner of Police CP John B.Abang, personally led Police patrol teams to the scene and Fire Service department was immediately contacted and they responded promptly alongside Federal Road Safety and Civil Defence Corps.
He said the area has been cordoned off and traffic diverted to alternative routes in order to prevent further catastrophe.
He said the route will not be opened until the fire has been successfully put off by the fire fighters.
According to Mohmmed, all the Security agencies in the state worked in synergy to control the large crowd, direct traffic and restore order at the scene.
He also added that Investigation has commenced to ascertain actual circumstances surrounding the incident.
