Fuel tanker bursts into flames in Ibadan.
Fuel tanker bursts into flames in Ibadan.
A petroleum tanker transporting 33,000 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (petrol) exploded on Thursday in Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State.
The incident occurred at Celica Junction along the new Ife Expressway. According to eyewitnesses, the explosion was caused by brake failure, which led the tanker to lose control, collide with a Prado jeep and another vehicle, and subsequently overturn and ignite.
One of the eyewitnesses recounted, “The tanker hit a Prado jeep and another car. In the process, it fell and exploded. Thankfully, there were no casualties, although the fire damaged the vehicles involved.”
Confirming the incident in a statement, the Chairman of the Oyo State Fire Service, Maroof Akinwande, stated that the report was received at exactly 6:27 p.m. on Thursday. Firefighters responded swiftly, using chemical foam compounds to contain the blaze and prevent it from spreading to a nearby Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) filling station and other properties. Officers from the Federal Fire Service also assisted in extinguishing the fire.
Akinwande explained that the accident was caused by a brake failure, which made the tanker lose control, crash into the two vehicles, topple, and catch fire. While no lives were lost, the fire damaged the tanker and a car, and the Prado jeep was forced into a nearby gutter by the impact.
