Metro
FRSC Confirms 12 Dead As Tanker Catches Fire in Benue
The Federal Road Safety Corps has confirmed that 12 corpses have been recovered from the scene of the tanker explosion that rocked Oshigbudu community in the Agatu Local Government Area of Benue State on Sunday.
The Sector Commander, FRSC, Yakubu Mohammed, who gave the figure, added that the casualty number might increase because many people were caught up in the explosion.
He said, “The corpses of eight male, three female and one male child were recovered.
“The number may be more, because some houses were gutted by fire and there were people inside.”
Earlier, an eyewitness disclosed that a full loaded tanker conveying fuel fell at the Oshigbudu-Obagaji junction and the content poured and flowed to a filling station in the Oweto area and caught fire.
The eyewitness explained that the incident, which happened in the afternoon, destroyed major parts of the Oshigbudu community.
The eyewitness, who simply identified himself as Sunday, said, “The tanker fell down at a junction in Oshigbudu and while the content gushed out, it spread to a filling station, where it ignited.
“The situation is tense we cannot ascertain number of lives lost, but some people were caught up in the inferno.”
Meanwhile, the Vice Chairman of the local government council, John Ikwulono, who confirmed the incident, also said that many people might have lost their lives.
He stated, “At the moment, we cannot ascertain the number of dead victims now; this thing (tanker explosion) happened at the Ubagaji/Oshigbudu junction.
“The tanker was laden with fuel and fell down at that junction and the fuel gushed out of the tanker and spread to a nearby fuel station towards Oweto and the filling station caught fire and several houses around the area got burnt.
“People, who were not able to escape, also suffered burns; the fire is still burning; it is a very terrible thing.”
Ikwulono said the situation was compounded by absence of a fire service station in the local government.
“There is no fire service station in Agatu and the only one we have in the entire senatorial district is in Otukpo, which is about one hour drive to Oshigbudu, and when we contacted them, they said their vehicle had broken down,” he stated.
Ikwulono said the people had to resort to using water and detergent to extinguish the inferno, adding, “The damage has already been done.”
He called on the Benue State Emergency and Maintenance Agency as well as the National Emergency and Maintenance Agency to come to the aid of the victims.
When contacted, the Director of the state fire service, Donald Ikyaaza, said he just received the report, but explained that Oshigbudu was far from the state capital.
The director confirmed that the service did not have station in Otukpo, adding that the fire service there was owned by the Federal Government.
The Punch
A member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Joe Igbokwe, has called for the dismissal of the soldier who resisted the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
The soldier had blocked Wike and officials of the FCTA from accessing a portion of land in the FCT.
The officer, claiming he was acting on instructions, told Wike that he would not be allowed into the property. Wike, however, questioned his authority, leading to a heated confrontation and name calling.
Reacting on Facebook, Igbokwe questioned who was behind the military officer in challenging the FCT Minister.
He wrote, “Who is this man in uniform? Of what meat is he fed? Who is beating the drum for him? This is unacceptable? His uniform has to be removed.”
The Lagos State Police Command has vehemently denied reports making the rounds that it was involved in the attempted release of a Lebanese national, who is in custody for the defilement of eight children.
The Police made the rebuttal via a statement signed by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Abimbola Adebisi, on behalf of the Commissioner of Lagos, and made available to the National Association of Online Security News Publishers (NAOSNP).
In the statement titled, RE: OUTRAGE AS LAGOS POLICE ALLEGEDLY ATTEMPT TO RELEASE LEBANESE ACCUSED OF DEFILING EIGHT CHILDREN, the Police noted as follows:
“The Lagos State Police Command is not involved in any alleged attempt to release a Lebanese accused of defiling eight children.“
The story is therefore inaccurate and misleading.
The above case is being handled discreetly by the Gender Unit of the Command with the highest level of professionalism, diligence, and in line with international best practices, by specially trained gender case specialists.
Furthermore, the investigation strictly follows the standard operating procedures for cases involving children and young persons. The Gender Unit of the Command remains firmly committed to child protection and upholding due process in the pursuit of justice, without fear, favour, or sentiment toward anyone involved, whether a foreign national or Nigerian.
The case in question, which is under thorough investigation, does not involve any Lebanese, but rather a national of one of the Southern African countries. Every necessary step has been taken to ensure that justice is served in the matter. It is important to inform the public that both the biological mother of the child and the child herself made statements to the Police affirming that the child was neither molested nor defiled by the accused person.
However, the complaint by the child’s father, who has custody of the child, on his allegations against the accused person, is being carefully investigated to ensure justice in the matter and prevent any miscarriage of justice. The outcome of the investigation will definitely be made public.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Olohundare Jimoh, has directed a discreet investigation into the allegations highlighted by the reporter in the report to ensure that no stone is left unturned in getting to the root of the matter . The writer of the story has also been contacted and briefed on the steps being taken by the Police to ensure that justice is achieved.
The Commissioner of Police furthermore wishes to reiterate his full confidence in the impartiality, competence, and high level of professionalism in the Officer-in-Charge of the Gender Unit, Lagos Police Command,Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Toyin Kazeem, who was officially out of the country on IACP in the United States when the matter was reported to the Gender Unit. Her exemplary track record, both locally and internationally, exemplifies her integrity, dedication, and commitment to handling gender-related and other sensitive cases. Under her leadership, the Gender Unit has brought pride to the Command and provided justice to numerous vulnerable persons, including women and children.
The Lagos State Police Command therefore urges the public and the media to continue to repose trust and confidence in the ability of the Command to deliver justice in all cases, particularly those involving children and other vulnerable groups. The outcome of this case will be made known to the public on completion of the investigation.
The family of former President Shehu Shagari has announced the death of his last surviving widow, Hajiya Saratu Shehu Shagari.
She passed away on Monday at the age of 89, after a prolonged illness.
A statement signed by the eldest son of the former president, Captain Mohammed Bala Shagari, confirmed that Saratu died at about 3 pm.
He described the late Hajiya Saratu as an embodiment of grace, humility, and quiet strength, who lived a life of dignity and service.
The family also said details of the funeral arrangements would be announced in due course.
