Eleven members of the same family from the Abofia-Agbaja community in Ebonyi Local Government Area, Ebonyi State, were among the victims of a tragic tanker fire that occurred on Saturday at Ugwu Onyeama along the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway, PUNCH Metro has learned.
Eyewitnesses reported that the fire erupted around 11 a.m. after a tanker lost control while descending a hilly section of the road. The vehicle crashed into multiple cars, spilling its contents and triggering a massive explosion.
Mr. Ikechukwu Nwaji, the bereaved brother of the deceased family members, spoke to our correspondent on Tuesday, struggling to hold back tears. He revealed that the explosion claimed the lives of his brother, Mr. Jeremiah Nwaji, along with his wife, six children—including a set of twins—his younger brother, a house help, and servants. The family had been traveling in a private Sienna vehicle to their village for the burial of their late father.
According to Ikechukwu, his late brother, who was the family’s breadwinner, was using a friend’s Sienna vehicle to transport their belongings for the burial, scheduled to take place on Friday. Tragically, the journey ended in disaster.
“It is heartbreaking that we lost 11 family members in this preventable tragedy. My eldest brother, his wife, six children, our last born, and our brother’s house help all perished in the fire. They were coming from Anambra State to Ebonyi for our father’s burial when the accident occurred. Now, my family is left with just two surviving siblings out of four,” he lamented.
Ikechukwu urged President Bola Tinubu to reconsider the policy that allows tankers carrying Premium Motor Spirit to operate during the day, noting that similar accidents have claimed many lives.
“In developed countries, regulations ensure safer tanker movements. Our family is appealing to President Bola Tinubu to reinstate the previous policy restricting tanker movements to nighttime hours, from 9:00 p.m. to early morning. The ongoing tragedies caused by these tankers must be addressed,” he pleaded.
Mrs. Chiamaka Onyibe, the bereaved sister and widow, also expressed her grief, stating that the late Jeremiah Nwaji had been financially supporting her children’s education since she lost her husband.
“With his passing, we have lost our divine helper,” she said.
