Tension in Delta over diesel leak

Palpable tension and fear of the unknown have continued to mount in Ughelli/Oleri community, Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State following last Sunday tragedy of Diesel leak along the road where scores of persons reportedly sustained various degree of injuries.

The incident, it was gathered, led to multiple accident on the road as a result of the spill from a leaking diesel tanker, leaving six others allegedly dead, apart from the injured persons.

Eye witness, David Oghenero who spoke to journalists said the incident was further worsening by the early morning rains which made the road more slippery to unsuspecting road users, most of whom were going or returning from the Sunday Church Service.

Confirming the incident to journalists in Asaba on Monday, the commandant, Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), Mr. Random Kulven said “A tanker fell on the road carry diesel between Ughelli town and Oteri road,

and there was leakage resulting to spilling on the road, many road users driving to church in the morning on Sunday ran into the ugly situation and were trapped, while six others were involved in a fatal accidents as a result of the slippery road and could not make it,

a team of FRSC officials were on hand to help and scores were rushed to the Ughelli Central Hospital where the seriously injured victims are being admitted for treatment, it is unfortunate that the driver of the tanker escaped when angry mob moved into the scene to mob him, and everywhere was rowdy”.

It was further gathered that the tanker driver allegedly lost control on the road while he slept off, thereby leading to the crash and fall of the tanker loaded with diesel.

At the central hospital in Ughelli town, most of the victims, our informed sources said, were seriously injured and are in critical condition.

But the State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Modi Ononye who briefed the journalists on the situation claimed that the victims were responding to treatment, regretting that the tragedy was caused by multiple accidents that was followed by the tanker diesel spill on the road.

He said “scores of the victims are admitted into Accident and Emergency Unit of the Ughelli Central Hospital, and the State Government might transfer them to FMC, Asaba because of the fill capacity of the victims, and the battle to provide them medical care, we are really worried and we do hope that the situation will not degenerates into something else”.

Those none of the injured scores had died, but a large number of them sustained hand and leg fracture, while others had serious bruises all over their bodies including their heads.

As at the time of this report, source said relations of the victims have besieged the Ughelli Central Hospital with prayer warriors, and calling God to intervene in the situation.