Suspects released as fuel tanker explodes near Lira police station

LIRA. Suspects at Lira Central Police Station were Wednesday released unconditionally after a fuel tanker which had overturned near the police station exploded, a police officer said.

A police source said all the suspects were released in order to save their lives.
On Tuesday afternoon, a fuel tanker registration number UAS 004Q which was ferrying petrol and diesel from Oil Energy fuel station on Soroti road to another station of the same company on Kitgum road failed to negotiate a corner at the main roundabout and overturned in front of Lira Central Police Station leaving police officers who were in the offices scampering for their lives.

Police blamed the accident on speeding.
The fuel tanker spilled petrol and diesel which flowed for more than 300 metres following the drainage channels on Kitgum road. After the accident, police cordoned off the area to prevent people from scooping the fuel
However, on Wednesday evening, the tanker exploded and burnt several motorcycles belonging to boda-boda operators on Aloi road.

More than 23 motorcycles were burnt but police is still counting the extent of the damaged caused.

North Kyoga regional police spokesman, Mr David Ongom, said the cause of the fire is still unknown.
“It is still too early to know what sparked the fire or the extent of the damage caused by the fire. We shall release an official. Right now we are still very busy trying to control the fire,” Mr Ongom told Daily Monitor on Wednesday evening.