Metro

Six Feared Dead As Tankers Explode In Rivers

Published

2 years ago

August 14, 2022

Editor

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A wildfire from two petrol tankers has resulted in the death of six persons who were said to be scooping diesel in Eteo, Eleme Local Government Area of Rivers State.

It was gathered that the truck containing 33,000 litres of suspected illegally refined Automotive Gas popularly known as AGO was set on fire by security men.

The incident occurred in a bush near Trailer Park Junction, a popular business point at the Eleme section of the East-West Road.

An eyewitness identified as Gideon said drivers of two tankers were forced at gunpoint to drive into the bush, where the security agents set the tankers on fire.

Gideon alleged that the drivers may have refused to part with some cash which spurred the men to take such action.

He said, “They (security men) forced the truck owners at gunpoint to drive to the point where this happened.

“Remember, things like this often happen when the tanker drivers refuse to settle them for the amount of money they demand from them.

“I saw many residents scooping and transporting it (fuel) away. As the fire was set on the tankers, they started to burn, exploded and the products spilled. They scooped it at a distance while it was burning.”

He further said since the AGO did not burn as fast as petrol, especially as it was poorly refined, it was easier for locals to scoop the product as it oozed out from the truck into drainages.

Speaking on the development, an activist and executive director, Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre, Fyneface Dumnamene, condemned the action of the security men.

Dumnamene advocated a provision in the Petroleum Industry Act, where security officials who set ablaze petrol tankers and vessels should be tried in court.

He explained that security agents should be dragged to court under the PIA, since host community people who caused pollution could forfeit their three per cent as stipulated in the Act.

“The burning of two tankers of 33,000 litres each has caused the spilling of 66,000 litres of AGO into the environment.

“So, if the PIA says communities will be criminalised and penalised even with the withholding of the per cent, then we can see how to push this advocacy for security officials that set ablaze tankers and vessels to also be dragged to court under this Act.

“In fact, they can set ablaze tankers, but they should not spill its contents.

“The number one reason for confiscating and impounding the tankers is because they’re allegedly carrying illegal petroleum products.

“The reason for setting it ablaze is a combination of the fact that it is carrying illegal petroleum products and they also refused to settle them with something substantial, thus wasting their time,” he said.

On the casualty figure, he said about six persons, including a security official lost their lives, while others were hospitalised in an undisclosed facility on Sunday.

Dumnamene added, “As a result of the increased product scooping activity, with some of the scoopers climbing the tankers that were still standing with some product in them, an explosion occurred in the process, leading to the alleged deaths, burns and injuries to those caught in the fire including a dead body said to be in security uniform.”

He further said fire service arrived at the scene to out the remnants of fire and the area cleaned.

When contacted, the spokesperson of the state police command, Grace Iringe-Koko, confirmed the incident but said she was yet to get the actual death.

She promised to get back to our reporter, but had yet to do so as of the time of filing this report.

PUNCH.

Metro

Court Remands Tenant For Setting Landlord’s House On Fire In Ibadan

Published

10 hours ago

May 2, 2024

Editor

An Iyaganku Chief Magistrates’ Court in Ibadan on Thursday ordered that a 35-year-old man, Dickson Peter, be remanded in a correction facility for allegedly setting his landlord’s house on fire.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the police charged the defendant with two counts of felony and arson.

The Magistrate, Mr M. Mudashiru, who did not take his plea due to lack of jurisdiction, ordered that he be remanded in the Abolongo Correctional Facility, Oyo Town.

Mudashiru said the remand is pending legal advice from the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP).

He adjourned the matter until July 23, 2024, for reference.

Earlier, the Prosecution Counsel, Insp. Femi Oluwadare told the court that Peter, on April 18, at about 12:30 am, was alleged to have unlawfully set fire to the house of his landlord, Cepas Okeme, and destroyed properties worth N6.5 million.

Oluwadare said that after he set the building on fire, it also spread to the next house property belonging to Bose Ali ‘F’ and destroyed property worth N3.5 million.

He said the offence contravened the provisions of Section 443 of the Criminal Code Laws of Oyo State 2000.

Metro

Officer Who Shot Man Dead During Fuel Queue Tumult Identified — Lagos Police

Published

11 hours ago

May 2, 2024

Editor

The Lagos State Police Command said it has identified the police officer who shot a young man, Toheeb Eniafe, at a petrol station on Wednesday.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Benjamin Hundeyin disclosed this on Thursday.

He said, “The person behind the shooting has been identified as a police officer serving at Special Protection Unit (SPU) Base 17, Lion Building, Lagos.

“Investigation is still ongoing and further findings will be made available.

“Meanwhile, the Lagos State Police Command is working with the family of the deceased to ensure that there is no miscarriage of justice.”

Recall that Eniafe was shot on Wednesday at a petrol station belonging to the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited at Obalende in the Ikoyi area of Lagos State.

Eniafe was reported to have been shot dead while he and some others were resisting the move by some security agents to buy fuel without joining the queue.

Metro

Woman Kills One Year-old Son In Delta

Published

15 hours ago

May 2, 2024

Editor

The Delta State Police Command on Thursday paraded a 24-year-old woman, Sofia Nkwo, for killing her one-year-old son.

The woman said she killed her son because she couldn’t care for the child again as the father rejected the child.

Also paraded were fake alcoholic producers, murder, kidnapping suspects, and car snatchers among others.

Parading the suspects at the police headquarters in Asaba, the Delta State capital, the Commissioner of Police, Mr Abaniwonda Olufemi, frowned at the evil act perpetuated by the woman.

He said, “On April 28, 2024, a case of infanticide was reported at Oleh Division, that a suspect named Sofia Nkwor 24, from Isoko south LGA, dump her child of one year and four month old in a well along the road in Araya community Isoko south LGA.

“Children who went to play around the tree discovered the abandoned child floating on the well. The mother Sofia Nkwor was immediately arrested and she stated that she dumped the child on 26th April 2024.

Confessing to the crime, Nkwo, said that she killed her son because she couldn’t care for the child again as the father rejected the child.

On the current kidnappings and killings in Ika North-East and Ika South areas of the state where farmers were being kidnapped and killed by gunmen, CP Olufemi said the command had developed personnel for the area.

“We are aware of the security situation in the Ika area of the state, and I have deployed personnel and directed Area Commander to move into the area and curb the bushes.

“The command is also working with Edo state Command because you know the area is the boundary between Delta and Edo,” he added.