From Nwogha Ndubuisi, Abakaliki
Investigation has revealed that last Saturday’s gas explosion in Enugu State claimed the lives of 11 family members who are natives of Abofia Agbaja in Ebonyi Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.
A brother of the victims, Mr Ikechukwu Nwaji, who spoke with our correspondent amidst tears, said the gas explosion claimed the entire family of Mr Nwaji Jeremiah while they were on their way to Ebonyi for their late father’s burial.
According to the family source, Mr Nnaji was on his way from Onitsha, Anambra State, with his six children, wife, brother and servants to the village when their Sienna vehicle caught fire from the explosion that burnt them to ashes.
He lamented that the victim, who was the bread winner of the family conveyed the entire family with his friend’s sienna to enable them carry all their belongings, as the deceased’s father was slated to be buried on Friday of the week before he met his death.
He called on President Bola Tinubu-led federal government to revisit the policy that banned the movement of tanker carrying premium motor spirit otherwise known as fuel during the day, adding that many families have lost their loved ones in similar controllable situation.
The bereaved sister and a widow, Mrs Chiamaka Onyibe, said the victim was the one paying her children’s school fees since she lost her husband, adding that the family has lost their divine helper coupled with the fact that they had relocated to the family house.
Also, Mrs Ifeoma Oroke lamented that the family received the shocking news with pain and prayed that the state and federal government come to their aid.
The deceased, who was identified as a classmate (2004 set) of the Ebonyi State governor, Francis Nwifuru, was his campaign leader in Anambra during the 2023 general elections.
