“Tragic Blaze: Fuel Tanker Disaster Claims 12 Lives and 38 Injured in Cross River”

At least 38 individuals were critically impacted after a fuel tanker erupted in flames in Ndem community, Ogoja Local Government Area of Cross River State, on Wednesday.

The tanker, reported to have fallen into an adjacent river during transloading activities, sparked a blaze that consumed numerous locals at the location.

Witnesses indicated that many victims suffered extensive burns, with a minimum of 12 individuals confirmed deceased at the time of reporting. Several of the deceased were allegedly charred beyond recognition.

An observer, Anthony Ekeni, mentioned he counted around 38 victims at the location, including 12 deceased bodies.

Among those presumed dead are the Chairman of the Ogoja Truckers Association and a recently elevated Assistant Superintendent of Police, whose identity remains unverified.

Emergency response organizations have yet to release an official statement as of the filing of this report.

Confirming the occurrence, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, ASP Sunday Eitokpah, stated that the bodies of the deceased had been retrieved and handed over to the relevant authorities and families, including the Hausa Muslim community for interment according to Islamic customs.

Eitokpah mentioned that the police received news of the event with profound sorrow, adding that the Divisional Traffic Officer in Ogoja and patrol teams were swiftly dispatched to the site to secure the region and manage traffic.

“The area was sealed off to avert additional casualties, while efforts were made in collaboration with pertinent stakeholders to rescue trapped individuals and transport the injured to the General Hospital, Ogoja, for care,” he remarked.

He also noted that reinforcements were subsequently sent to control the fire, guarantee public safety, and avert further escalation, while access to the affected zone was limited.

The police spokesperson also revealed that an inquiry had begun to ascertain both the underlying and immediate causes of the incident, particularly the factors surrounding the transloading operation that initiated the explosion.