A petrol-laden tanker has overturned on the Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe Western Bypass in Minna, Niger State, spilling premium motor spirit (PMS) across the roadway and triggering panic in the area.
SaharaReporters learnt that the incident occurred near Mandela Junction, beside the National Examinations Council (NECO) office, a strategic location close to the Niger State House of Assembly and the state secretariat.
Sources disclosed that the tanker had just departed the NNPC Mega Station when it caught fire. The driver reportedly drove the vehicle out of the filling station before it eventually overturned on the bypass, spilling fuel across the road.
Emergency responders were said to be overwhelmed, as both federal and state fire service officials later vacated the scene, citing lack of adequate water and firefighting chemicals as the inferno intensified.
The tanker driver sustained partial injuries during the incident and was immediately rushed to a nearby hospital for medical treatment.
As of the time of filing this report, the exact cause of the fire remains unknown, while residents and motorists were urged to stay away from the area due to the high risk posed by the fuel spill.
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