10 LIVES LOST, 5 VEHICLES BURNT AS FUEL LADEN TANKER EXPLODES ON LAGOS-IBADAN EXPRESSWAY

Following an earlier report this morning, the Ogun state Sector commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps, Ahmed Umar, has confirmed the death of at least 10 persons in a tanker explosion.

The explosion is reported to have occurred around Conoil in Araromi,
before Sagamu Interchange on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway on Thursday morning.

Speaking to Newsmen in Abeokuta, Umar said five vehicles were burnt in the raging inferno, while victims of the accidents were burnt beyond recognition.

According to him, the vehicles involved in the accident are: a Mack truck marked AKL 198 ZT; an Iveco truck with no registration number; a Mazda bus marked FFE 361 XB, an unmarked Howo truck, and the Mack tanker.

He attributed the cause of the accident to speeding by the driver of the Iveco truck.

“Driver of the Iveco truck, who was traveling on top speed, lost control and rammed into the tanker, which resulted in fire outbreak due to leakage,”

He added that the Mazda bus was engulfed by the fire, saying that all those that died were in the bus.

He added that the deceased was taken to the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, Sagamu.

Earlier, FRSC had advised motorists and the public to use alternative routes on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway due to a tanker explosion at Araromi Town before the Interchange.