By peterside Rejoice Eneky
There was panic in the Odinjo area of Ibadan on Tuesday following a fire outbreak involving a petrol tanker loaded with 33,000 litres of fuel.
The incident occurred near Muslim Grammar School along the Lagos-Ibadan highway, causing residents and shop owners in the vicinity to flee for safety.
Eyewitnesses said the tanker fell on its side while the driver was attempting to navigate a bad section of the road, after which it caught fire.
“The truck lost balance, skidded off the road and overturned. Moments later, it was engulfed in flames,” an eyewitness told The Nation. “People ran in every direction. Thankfully, no one was hurt.”
Officials of the Oyo State Fire Service were said to have arrived swiftly at the scene and successfully contained the fire, preventing further spread to nearby buildings and shops.
Confirming the incident, the General Manager of the State Fire Service, Rev’d Akinyemi Akinyinka, said the cause of the accident was being investigated, adding that no fatalities were recorded.
“Our men were immediately dispatched to the location. They were able to bring the situation under control. As of now, we cannot ascertain the total damage,” he stated.
The accident caused a serious traffic gridlock on the highway, prompting the intervention of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and other security agencies who took over traffic control in the area.
As of the time of filing this report, emergency teams remained at the site to ensure safety and clear the wreckage.
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