Residents count losses as fire guts Rivers community

Residents of Omerelu community in Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers state are counting their losses over the petrol tanker fire that claimed three lives and destroyed properties worth millions of naira.

Three persons reportedly lost their lives and scores sustained various degrees of injuries in the fire incident from a patrol tanker fire which occurred on Tuesday evening.

A truck laden with petroleum product was said to have veered off the road, rammed into a stationary vehicle by the road and ignited fire.

Both vehicles and buildings within the area of the incident were razed down by fire.

According to eyewitness account, the victims were the two occupants of the vehicle and one other person.

Some of the victims, whose properties were destroyed in the fire  called on the state government to come to their aid.

A victim, who simply identified himself as Chimaobi, said that he lost all the goods in his shop.

“I don’t know where to start from here all my life investments have gone down the drain. The fire razed my entire buildings which housed many shops with goods worth thousands of naira inside,” he said.

He called on the state government and public spirited individuals to come to his aid.

Godwin Williams, another victim, said: “This incident has brought terrible pains to me and my entire family. As I stand now I don’t know where to relocate my entire household. We need help from the government and public spirited individuals,” he said.

The Public Relations Officer of the State Police Command, SP Nnamdi Omoni, said the Commissioner of Police,  Friday Eboka, has ordered full scale  investigation into the incident.