By Abasi Ita
Twelve persons have been confirmed dead following a petrol tanker explosion in Ogoja Local Government Area of Cross River State.
The Cross River State Police Command confirmed the incident, describing it as a tragic explosion that occurred during fuel transloading operations.
Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Eitokpah Sunday, said operatives were immediately deployed to the scene to secure the area, restore order and assist in rescue operations.
He explained that the Divisional Traffic Officer in Ogoja, alongside patrol teams, cordoned off the affected area to prevent further casualties while emergency responders worked to evacuate victims.
According to him, the injured were taken to the General Hospital, Ogoja, for medical treatment, while the fire outbreak was contained with the support of relevant agencies.
He said the explosion occurred during transloading, which triggered a fire that engulfed the scene and caused multiple casualties.
“Twelve corpses were recovered and released to families, including members of the Hausa Muslim community for burial according to Islamic rites,” he stated.
The police spokesman added that investigations have commenced to determine the immediate and remote causes of the incident, particularly the circumstances surrounding the transloading process.
Meanwhile, eyewitnesses said about 38 persons sustained varying degrees of injuries in the explosion, which reportedly happened after the tanker fell into a nearby river, sparking a fire that spread rapidly.
There are also unconfirmed reports that a soldier and a police officer were among those injured in the incident.