In an heart-rending circumstances, 11 members of the same family from the Abofia-Agbaja community in the Ebonyi Local Government Area of Ebonyi State were among the victims of a tanker fire that occurred at Ugwu Onyeama along the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway, on Saturday, reports have revealed.
Eyewitnesses stated that the fire broke out around 11 a.m., when the tanker lost control while descending a hilly section of the road, crashing into vehicles ahead before spilling its contents and igniting a massive explosion.
Narrating the tragic incident on Tuesday, the brother of the deceased Ebonyi 11 family victims, Mr. Ikechukwu Nwaji, told journalists amidst tears that the explosion claimed the entire family of Mr. Jeremiah Nwaji, who was travelling in their private Sienna to the village to bury their late father.
Nwaji disclosed that his brother was on his way from Onitsha, Anambra State with his six children, wife, brother and servants to the village when their vehiclr caught fire from the explosion that burnt them to ashes.
According to him, his deceased brother who was the breadwinner of the family borrowed the Sienna from a friend to enable him to carry all the things they need for their father’s, which was billed for burial this Friday, before he met his death.
He said, “It was disheartening that we lost 11 members of the family in an uncontrollable situation involving my eldest brother and breadwinner of our family, his wife, six children, among whom were a twin, our last born, our brother’s house help and servants.
“They were in a Sienna vehicle coming to Ebonyi State from Anambra where the incident occurred and were coming for our father’s burial which was scheduled to be held this Friday before his death leaving the family with two siblings as my mother gave birth to four males.”
He called on President Bola Tinubu to revisit the policy that banned the movement of tankers loaded with petrol during the day, adding that many families had lost their loved ones in similar circumstances.
“As seen in advanced countries, our family is pleading to President Tinubu to revisit the policy that stipulated that tankers should only move by night as seen before where drivers moved from 9:00 in the night till early morning where they pack to continue the next day seeing the havoc it is causing in our country.”
Also, the bereaved’s sister and a widow, Mrs Chiamaka Onyibe, said the victim was the one paying her children’s school fees since she lost her husband.
She added that the family had lost their ‘divine helper’.
Reports have it that the deceased was a classmate (2004 Set) of Governor Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi State.
