Nigeria has witnessed yet another devastating tanker explosion, this time in Ibadan, Oyo State, where two lives were tragically lost in the early hours of Tuesday.
This latest incident adds to the alarming frequency of tanker explosions in the country, highlighting the urgent need for improved safety measures and regulations.
The incident occurred at 5:00 am near Gabster Mega Petrol Station, located at Orita Challenge in the Oluyole Local Government Area of the ancient city.
According to a witness, the tanker driver and his motor boy, who lost their lives in the explosion, were burnt beyond recognition.
The witness said: “The incident happened around 5:00 this morning. The driver and his motor boy were trapped in the inferno and couldn’t escape. They were burnt beyond recognition.”
Officials of the Oyo State Fire Service, assisted by security agencies, helped to contain the inferno, averting potential damage to nearby shops and residential buildings.
Commenting on the incident, the Special Adviser on Fire Services Reform to Gov. Seyi Makinde and Chairman of the State Fire Services Agency, Mr. Moroof Akinwande, said firefighters promptly responded to the emergency.
Akinwande said: “We received information about the fire at Gabster Mega Petrol Station, Orita Challenge, at 5:15 am. The situation is now under control.”
Nigeria has witnessed a disturbing rise in fatal road accidents and fires since the start of the year, resulting in significant loss of lives and property.
Persecondnews recalls that 98 people lost their lives on January 19, 2025, while scooping fuel from a crashed tanker at Dikko Junction along the expressway between Niger and Kaduna states.
At least 56 residents sustained varying degrees of burns and were rushed to different hospitals for treatment.
Also on January 25, 2025, a fuel-laden tanker experienced brake failure, fell, and burst into flames, killing at least 21 people and injuring many others along the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway, specifically at the Ugwu Onyeama axis.
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