RIP: Casualties of Rivers tanker fire given mass burial

Casualties of Thursday’s tanker fire in Okobie village on the East-West Road in Ahoada West Local Government Area of Rivers State have been given a mass burial at the scene of the incident.

They were buried on Thursday evening.

The Sector Commander for the Rivers State Command of the Federal Road Safety Commission, Dr. Kayode Olagunju, stated this in a post on Facebook at 8.02p.m.

The incident occurred while some villagers were allegedly scooping fuel after the tanker was involved in a crash with three other vehicles.

He stated that 95 persons died in the incident, of which 87 bodies were burnt beyond recognition.
The FRSc chief listed the vehicles involved in the crash as the tanker, a Toyota Corolla car, Toyota Hiace bus and a Maza bus.
A total of 34 motorcycles were also involved in the crash and were consumed by the inferno along with the Mazda bus.
He noted that of the 20 injured victims rushed to the hospital, two died.

Olagunju also said the bodies of six of the victims who died on the spot were earlier released to their families.
His statement reads, “‎87 corpses burnt beyond recognition as a result of the crash involving a tanker and three other vehicles were this evening given mass burial at the scene of the crash at Okobe along Ahoada – Mbiama on the East – West Road in Rivers State.

“Six of the bodies of the victims that died on the spot had earlier been identified and released to their families.
Two of the 20 injured victims taken to the hospital also died.

A total of 95 persons died in the crash with 18 others injured.

“The vehicles involved were a Toyota Corolla cr with registration number RQ 218 AAA; Toyota Hiace XZ 613 AGL; and a tanker XA 340 TDU. One Mazda bus adn 34 motor bikes were burnt beyond recognition.”