No fewer than 10 people were reportedly burnt beyond recognition, yesterday, when a tanker conveying Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) crashed and burst into flames along Bauchi Road in Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State.
The incident, which occurred at about 1:30pm, left about seven vehicles burnt with tricycles, while properties worth millions of naira were consumed by the fire.
It was learned that the tanker, which was heading to Bauchi State, loaded with fuel, lost control and its body separated from the head which eventually ran into commercial vehicles loading passengers from Jos to Bauchi.
The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Alfred Alabo, who confirmed the incident described it as unfortunate.
He said: “The Plateau State Police Command wishes to inform the general public of the unfortunate incident that happened at Bauchi Road Junction in Jos, today, being the 27/04/2023 at about 1330hrs.
“The Command received information from a good Samaritan that a tanker conveying Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) lost control, crashed and burst in flames along Bauchi Road Junction in Jos.
“On receipt of the ugly incident, the Commissioner of Police, Bartholomew N. Onyeka, directed the Angwan Rogo Divisional Police Officer and his team of detectives to move to the scene of the accident immediately.
“Upon their arrival, it was discovered that 10 yet-to-be-identified people were burnt beyond recognition. Their lifeless bodies were later deposited at Plateau Specialist Hospital, Jos, while three motor vehicles and two tricycles affected by the fire were recovered from the scene.
“Efforts are on to remove obstacles placed on the road to enable free flow of traffic and to identify the true identity of the burnt bodies. The CP extends his condolence to the families of those who lost their lives in this unfortunate accident and, also, advises members of the public not to panic as the situation is under control.”
It was learned that some hoodlums also set ablaze the patrol van of the Federal Road Safety Corpse (FRSC), who were at the scene to evacuate the death bodies together with the police and some community leaders.