Two persons were feared dead yesterday during a petroleum tanker explosion at Omerelu community in Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State.
The explosion which occurred at the early morning of yesterday also razed down buildings and destroyed goods and other valuables worth millions of naira.
The incident, according to The Tide source, occurred following the collision of two petroleum tankers at a check point. 
An indigene of the community, Innocent Amadi, who witnessed the incident, told The Tide that the two tankers exploded after the collision.
Amadi said a tanker conveying petroleum product was stopped by a petroleum task force in an attempt to allegedly extort money from the driver when another tanker collided with it at the check point.
According to him, “early hours of yesterday, fire ignited after the collision of two tankers, leading to the fire that razed the buildings down with two people losing their lives”.
Amadi disclosed that angry youths in the community had risen against the activities of the petroleum task force and called on the state government to intervene to save lives. 
The Tide reports that incidents of tanker explosion have become so frequent in Rivers State in recent times. 
The Tide recalls that a similar incident was averted last Thursday near Education Bus Stop, Mile One, Diobu, when a petroleum tanker spilled its contents that could have ignited fire but for the quick intervention of fire fighters.

By: Lilian Peter