The Governor of Delta State, Sheriff Oborevwori, says the poor state of federal roads in the state is responsible for a tanker accident that claimed five lives and destroyed several properties on Sunday.

Oborevwori, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Festus Ahon, echoed earlier calls for the Federal Government to expedite the reconstruction of failed portions of the road.

The governor also expressed his condolences to the families of the victims, saying the state had reached out to help them.

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The Delta State Police Command on Sunday confirmed the death of five in the inferno that also destroyed several properties, including eight buses, two tankers, five trailers, two cars and one motorcycle.

The incident occurred in the early hours of Independence Day after a tanker laden with Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) aka petrol travelling on Warri-Benin Road en route to Benin fell, spilling its contents into a nearby swamp.

The command, in a statement by its Police Public Relations Officer, Bright Edafe, disclosed that the spillage attracted a couple of youths who took advantage of the incident and started scooping the fuel into jerry cans and other containers. 

While they were at it, an explosion erupted and the fire from the explosion engulfed the whole area, it was gathered.