Sorrow and deep grief enveloped the Effurun community, near Warri, Uvwie Local Government Area of Delta State, on Thursday after a fuel-laden tanker ran into dozens of students of Army Day Secondary School, killing many.
The school is located inside the Gen. David Ejoor Barracks of the Nigerian Army, along the busy Effurun/NPA highway that leads to the Warri Refinery, where scores of tankers ply to load petroleum products.
According to eyewitnesses, the accident occurred at around 3.00pm when the students closed from school,
While the exact number of pupils involved in the accident was yet to be ascertained, a source told this newspaper that six of the victims have been confirmed dead, while many more are battling for their lives at the hospital.
The source, who pleaded anonimity, said the injured students were rushed to the Delta State University Teaching Hospital, Oghara after receiving first aid.
Meanwhile, many parents were seen rushing to the scene of the accident to certify the state ofntheir children.
Also, a heavy duty crane has been drafted to the scene to pull off the wreckage to enable rescue workers access to the scene.
A joint team of the Nigerian Army, FRSC and other security agencies were seen making frantic efforts to recover the remaining pupils trapped under the tanker.
