- Two unidentified persons were burnt to death when a fuel-laden truck spilled its content on the road in Ibadan, Oyo state
- The tanker driver coming from Lagos axis end of the expressway was said to have lost control of the vehicle just after the Sawmill Bridge
- The state governor, Ajimobi, has commiserated with the family and loved ones of the victims of the fire incident
A tanker laden with petrol on Thursday, April 13, fell and caught fire claiming two lives and burning four vehicles at Iwo road area of Ibadan around 3pm.
An eye witness, AbdulAzeez Hammed, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the tanker which fell and spilled its content, razed no fewer than four vehicles.
Hammed said he saw a man in one of the affected vehicles removing his child from the back of his wife when they saw the fire approaching their vehicle. The witness said the husband and the child escaped while the fire caught the wife in the car and burnt her to death.
Confirming the incident, SP Olugbenga Fadeyi, Oyo state police public relations officer, told NAN that two people lost their lives in the incident. Fadeyi said four vehicles and two motorcycles were also burnt.
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The Nation reports that eyewitnesses alleged that fire-fighters came about 40 minutes after they had been informed of the incident.
According to sources, motorists and commuters scampered for safety when the tanker driver coming from Lagos axis end of the expressway lost control of the vehicle just after the Sawmill Bridge. He could not prevent the fuel from spilling on the highway as he struggled to stabilise the vehicle.
The identity and whereabouts of the driver of the fuel tanker is still unknown.
A witness, who identified himself as Abbey, said: “It was the fuel spill from the tanker at the main road that caused the fire that sparked from under Onipepeye Bridge. Before we could know what happened, we heard a big explosion. It was terrifying. There were tick flames everywhere. In the process, people started running away from the scene. Two persons were so unlucky, as they were burnt beyond recognition.
”We called the fire service personnel to come and rescue the situation before the fire started. But it took them more than 40 minutes before they arrived. And by the time they got here, the fire had already burnt the two people to death.
“The victims were inside a car, trying to navigate their way to the main expressway. They should be coming from either Gbagi market or Gate axis. We did not recognise any of them. As you can see, they are burnt beyond recognition with all their personal belongings also burnt with them.”
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The assistant director, Oyo state Fire Service, Isiaka Adeleke confirmed that the tanker fell down while its content spilled on the highway. He said his men raced to the scene of the incident immediately they received the call.
Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo state has commiserated with the family and loved ones of the victims of the fire incident. Describing the incident as depressing, he said he was pained that it consumed lives and gutted houses and vehicles.
This is coming less than a week after a petroleum tanker exploded in Gombe state. At least 10 people reportedly died when a petroleum tanker exploded on Saturday, April 13.
Legit.ng had reported that eyewitnesses said the tanker, which was fully loaded with petrol, collided with another truck that was carrying bottled water along Gombe southern bypass. Officials of the Nigerian Red Cross Society were said to have evacuated from the explosion scene no fewer than 10 bodies which were burnt beyond recognition.
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