Enraged youths on Tuesday destroyed properties worth millions of naira in Oghara, Ethiope West Local Government Area of Delta State, after a petrol tanker rammed into a motorcycle, leaving two young men dead.

News Express learnt that the incident occurred along the Ajagbodudu Road in the community.

It was gathered that the petrol tanker, which was fully loaded with Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) was returning from the interior of the community but was denied a pass as a lorry, carrying cups of paint, was parked at one side of the road while a long queue of petrol tankers occupied the other parts.

The deceased, Daniel and Rukevwe, who are both in their early 20s, were said to be returning from the same direction with the petrol tanker.

An eyewitness, who preferred anonymity, revealed: “As the petrol tanker was struggling to meander past the lorry and the other trailers that were packed along the road, Daniel, who was riding the motorcycle, also tried to overtake the trailer but he could not since there was no enough space.

“So, as they continued to struggle with each other, the handle of the bike got hooked to the trailer and both Daniel and Rukevwe fell in between the back tyre of the trailer. I think the tanker driver was not aware that they fell in between his tyre so, he just drove across them and they died on the spot.

“When the boys saw what happened, they became annoyed and ran after the trailer but the driver fled from the scene before they got there. They destroyed some parts of the trailer and even the lorry that was carrying paint was severely damaged while the cups of paint were carted away in the process.

“Few minutes later, some men of the Nigerian Army and mobile policemen stormed the scene to maintain calm but the enraged youths threw stones at them so, they started opening fire and tear gas at them to disperse them away. That night, nobody slept in that area because they arrested everyone they saw around”

When our correspondent visited the scene, the trailer, lorry and motorcycle had been taken to the Divisional Police Station, Oghara, but traces of spilled paint and broken windscreen were noticed around the area.