Dominic Adewole 
Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori gnashed his teeth at the scene of the tanker explosion which killed a breastfeeding mother, her three-month baby, eight persons and seven buildings Ometan-Okpe community along Effurun-Sapele in Okpe Local Government Area of the state. Also, an oil and gas company complex and chains of makeshift buildings, three vehicles and a heavy-duty truck were burnt.
The Governor commiserated with the people of the community over the unfortunate incident. Governor Oborevwori flanked by the Speaker of the State’s House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Emomotimi Guwor and former Chairman of Okpe Local Government Council, Hon. Isaiah Esiovwa, empathized with the community. The ill-fated tanker, which was ferrying fuel allegedly developed a mechanical fault and lost the truck head while on motion, resulting in the explosion at the Ometan-Okpe junction. An eyewitness, who identified himself as Oghenekevwe, said: “The tanker exploded with heavy impact and razed all make-shift buildings around and other property in the community. The source said the breastfeeding mother was burnt beyond recognition while trying to rescue her threemonth-old baby who was trapped in the inferno.
Also, a 16-year-old secondary schoolgirl and her mother, who were said to have been trapped in their apartment, were burnt too. Bodies of victims, whose identities could not be immediately ascertained, were laid on the floor of the scene as of yesterday evening. Hundreds of sympathizers who besieged the scene after the fire had subsided tried to use zinc roofing sheets to cover the burnt bodies. They blamed the incident on the tanker driver who was said to be on speed. They called on the Governor, who hails from the axis, to come to the rescue of property owners who lost their houses and other means of livelihood to the unfortunate incident, and support the families of the dead victims.
