Nigerian authorities announced this Monday that eight people were burned to death when a gasoline tanker truck exploded in Borno, in the country’s south, as people tried to steal fuel after the car crashed.
According to the commander of the Federal Highway Traffic Safety Service in Ondo, Borno State, in southern Nigeria, the driver lost control and skidded, exiting the accident unharmed along with his co-pilot, but this did not happen with eight people who tried to steal fuel and died burnt after the truck exploded.
“The problem was that they were trying to collect” gasoline, Ezekiel Sonalla said, adding that the victims were burned to the point that they could not be identified.
Collecting fuel from tanker accidents has often resulted in loss of life in parts of Nigeria, especially after gasoline prices have more than doubled since June 1 due to the end of government subsidies ordered by President Bola Tinubu.
Fatal truck accidents are also common on most major roads in southern Nigeria; in January, 20 people were killed in two truck accidents in the south-west of the country, and in November last year, 12 people died in similar circumstances.
Traffic rules have been difficult to follow and authorities are now trying to impose tougher sanctions on violators, Sonalla said, quoted by the US news agency AP.
Author: Portuguese
Source: CM Jornal
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