Jos Tanker Explosion Kills 13 Persons As Hoodlums, Sympathizers Attack FRSC Rescue Team

The Police Command in Plateau has disclosed that tanker explosion which occurred at Bauchi Road junction in Jos North Local Government Area claimed the lives of 13 persons and destroyed 28 shops.

This was even as tbe Corps Marshal, Federal Road Safety Corps, Dauda Ali Biu condemned strongly, the unjustifiable attack on both FRSC personnel on rescue operation and operational vehicles, describing it as unfortunate, uncalled-for, and could have a demoralizing effect on the general morale of the operatives.

He stated this while reacting to the attack on FRSC personnel who were carrying out their lawful duty of rescuing crash victims following a fatal crash that occured in Bauchi Road street, Jos, Plateau State on Thursday, 27 April, 2023 at 1330HRS.

DSP Alfred Alabo, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the command in a statement on Friday said that the tanker which crashed due to break failure, also destroyed eight other vehicles, six tricycles and two motorcycles.

”The ten persons who sustained various degrees of injuries during the incident are currently receiving treatment at various hospitals.

”Bodies of the deceased have also been buried according to Islamic rights,” he said.

Alabo, who said the Commissioner of Police in the state, Bartholomew Onyeka, who visited the scene of the incident, regretted the action of some youths in the area who burnt down the official vehicle of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC).

The PPRO added that the Commissioner advised residents of the state to be law abiding at all times.

Similarly, in a statement, FRSC Assistant Corps Marshal
Corps Public Education Officer, Bisi Kazeem, explained that the fatal crash involved a diesel ladened  tanker that instantly went into flames, killing 13 people, injuring 10 victims and burning down a total of 8 motor vehicles, 6 tricycles, and 2 motorcycles.

He said the two teams detailed to carryout prompt rescue of the crash victims were ambushed by sympathisers and suspected hoodlums who came out in their hundreds, burning down 1 FRSC patrol vehicle, and damaging many parts of the ambulance that was to rescue the injured victims to the hospital. The attack also left 3 operatives with severe injuries sustained on their heads and other parts of their bodies.

According to him, the Corps Marshal while sympathising with the victims of the crash also called on the public to desist from further unprovoked attacks on FRSC personnel, and it’s facilities both in the operational front and within it’s Commands premises.

Dauda Biu however applauded the swift response of the Nigeria Police Force, and other security organisations who acted swiftly to calm the rousing tension, as well as disperse the angry mob and restore normalcy on that route.