ARMSTRONG ALLAHMAGANI, Bauchi
Three people who were trying to scoop fuel from a petrol tanker which fell in front of the Federal Polytechnic, Bauchi, have been injured after it exploded.
NATIONAL ACCORD learnt that the incident happened on Wednesday night.
The tanker was said to have been fully loaded with petrol when the incident happened.
Our Correspondent who was at the scene of the accident learnt that the tanker was coming from Yelwa area and was heading towards Dass when it fell while trying to avoid hitting a Keke NAPEP in its front.
It was also learnt from a source who spoke on the condition of anonymity said the explosion cause pandemonium in the area as people scampered for their safety.
He said that it was minutes after the tanker fell that it exploded and injured those who were trying to scoop the petrol from it.
The source said: “The petrol tanker was heading towards Dass from the Yelwa area but I don’t know where it was heading to.
“When it got to a speed breaker just before the gate of the Federal Polytechnic, Bauchi, I think he didn’t know of the speed breaker or he forgot, so there was a Keke NAPEP right in front of him.
“He tried to avoid hitting the Keke NAPEP driver and in the process, he lost control and his tanker fell right in front of the Polytechnic gate.”
He added that: “The tanker didn’t explode immediately. It was after about 30 to 40 minutes that it exploded. And because it didn’t explode immediately it fell, people were already there trying to scoop fuel and then, suddenly, it exploded.
“Three people were injured in the process and we’re rushed to the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital for medical attention.”
The source added that the driver removed the head of tanker and took it away before it exploded.
Three tress in front of the Polytechnic were also burnt as a result of the fire.
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