Ometan Community tanker fire victims cry for financial assistance

The victims of Petroleum Tanker that caught fire in Ometan Community in Okpe/Uvwie Local Government Areas  have cried for financial assistance to resettle their homes.

Speaking to PebNews crew who  visited the community on Wednesday, one of  the victims, a landlord who identified himself as Pastor Udi Long Okakamunapedo said since the incident happened on the 3rd of May, 2024 (last Month)  which led to the death of many people including eight persons in his family and the destruction of  property worth billions of Naira, they have not got assistance from anybody, not even, the government.

According to him, since that time, they have no place to take shelter adding that,  on that fateful day, the Governor of the state, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori visited the community to see things himself but till date, they have not got any help.  

His words: "Governor  Rt. Hon. Sheriff Francis Oborevwori visited Ometan on the day of the devastating tanker inferno that killed a total of eight  persons, seven in my compound which includes my younger sister, Tekeme and her son. 

"Household property, several  buildings, ,five stores, church, several other caravans belonging to neighbours, vehicles, tippers, among others, worth billions of Naira were  lost to the inferno".

According to him, this has displaced them, adding, at present, they don't have food, money and clothing since that time, saying, this sudden tanker fire is as worst as  flood and other natural disasters. 

His words: "This sudden destruction  resulted to our displacement since on the 3rd May 2024, the day the inferno in Ometan. It has rendered  over eighty people homeless. No food, no clothing, no  money, no trade, no shelter etc".

He said, on that fateful day, the community was peaceful and was going on with its  normal business until suddenly, a tanker containing fuel from nowhere fell and burst into flames which caused the fire disaster.

His words: "This  kind of incident has not happened in the community before and  nobody envisaged it. Our community was peaceful and we were  going about our normal business before the incident happened".

According to him, so far, it was only the Orodje of Okpe, HRM, Major General Felix Mujakperuo (Rtd), Orhue I that has assisted  them  with some finance. He therefore used the medium to appeal to Governor Oborevwori, Senator Ovie Omo Agege, other corporate organizations,  philanthropists and well meaning  Nigerians  to come to their aid as they are suffering in silence.

He said:" Nothing is too small or big, we will appreciate if the Governor  Sheriff Oborevwori and other well meaning Nigerians, organizations and philanthropists can  help us, we are suffering in silence".

Pastor Okakamunapedo said, despite what happened to them, they all celebrate with Governor Oborevwori on his one year anniversary saying they hoped that  better things would  come to Delta State.

He said: "Thank you our Governor, Rt Hon Sheriff Francis Oborevwori, our working and  dynamic Governor. We celebrate with you on  your one year of numerous achievements  in office"