The niggling fuel scarcity across the country has claimed no fewer than 25 victims in Asaba, Delta State in the most horrifying manner as the victims were burnt beyond recognition. The scene of the horrific incident looked like the making of human barbecue.
The incident occurred when a Dangote Cement Truck, Friday, rammed into an 18-Seater Bus, a dustbin collector and a cab along the ever Benin-Asaba Expressway by the NNPC Mega filling station adjacent to the Asaba airport where a long winding queue had built. The impact of the truck on the bus triggered fire which spread to across both sides of the highway. The fire consumed occupants of the bus and other persons close by. Many were charred beyond recognition.
The collision occurred as a result of the vehicles driving against the flow of traffic to escape the gridlock that had built up on the side of the filling station as a result of the fuel queue. The resulting fire and its billows attracted crowds from the airport and adjoining places who tried to rescue some of the victims trapped in the raging inferno. Men of the Airport Fire Service responded quickly and moved to the scene to assist in fighting the fire but the fierce fire had already done much damage before their arrival.
Meanwhile, officials of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) were seen evacuating the charred remains of the dead. They were burnt beyond recognition. One of the officials of the FRSC said that they were moving the bodies to Federal Medical Centre in Asaba.
Meantime, fuel scarcity has continued to bite hard as most filling stations were without the product. At the Black market, a litre of fuel sold for N200 to N250. Filling station attendants kept sealed lips about when stock will arrive.
