A fuel tanker caught fire in Ndem community, Ogoja Local Government Area of Cross River State on Wednesday, leaving at least 12 people dead and 38 others with severe burns.
The tanker fell into a nearby river during transloading operations and ignited, engulfing residents at the scene. Eyewitness Anthony Ekeni said he counted about 38 victims, including 12 lifeless bodies. Several of the dead were burnt beyond recognition.
Among those feared dead are the Chairman of the Ogoja Truckers Association and a recently promoted Assistant Superintendent of Police, though their identities had not been confirmed at the time of reporting.
Police Public Relations Officer ASP Sunday Eitokpah confirmed the incident, saying the Divisional Traffic Officer and patrol teams were deployed immediately to secure the area and manage traffic. Officers cordoned off the scene to prevent further casualties while rescue efforts continued.
Injured victims were evacuated to the General Hospital, Ogoja for treatment. Eitokpah said the corpses of the deceased were released to families and the Hausa Muslim community for burial according to Islamic rites. Reinforcements were deployed to contain the fire, ensure public safety and restrict access to the affected area.
Police have begun an investigation to determine the remote and immediate causes of the incident, particularly the circumstances around the transloading process that triggered the explosion. The investigation will examine what went wrong during the fuel transfer operation that led to the tanker falling into the river and catching fire.
