Three Soldiers and three other civilians were roasted to dead when a tanker carrying petrol exploded in Iwuru in Biase local government area of Cross River State.
The truck was fully loaded with petroleum products and in an attempt to avoid the deplorable part of the road swept and emptied the content.
After the crash, an eyewitness told our correspondent in the area on Friday that 3 soldiers, travelling in the opposite direction when the accident occurred, rushed to rescue the driver and the conductor but the tanker exploded into a hell of flame, burning them beyond recognition.
Her words, “When the tanker fell into the gutter, smoke started coming out and the soldiers who were in a vehicle heading to Calabar quickly stopped their van and went to rescue the driver and the conductor, suddenly the tanker burst into flames and they were caught in the fire.”
Among the victim were soldiers who was also trapped in the inferno but managed to escape with severe burns and was later rushed to the Akamkpa General Hospital for medical attention.
The following morning being Thursday, the fire was still smoking with the body of one of the soldiers found lying face down while those of the other two were found some meters away and left with just charred bones.
When contacted, Captain Owolabi, the Army Public Relations Officer of the Headquarters, 13 Brigade of the Nigerian Army in Calabar said he was yet to be briefed on the matter. “I am not aware of any such incident. Let me confirm and get back to you soon,” he said.
The incident is the second in the month of December. The first that occurred at the Scanobo area of the Calabar-Odukpani recorded no casualties.
