A petrol-laden tanker carrying 33,000 litres of Premium Motor Spiritwent up in flames on Thursday evening in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, following a brake failure.
The incident, which occurred at Celica junction along the new Ife Expressway, caused panic among residents and motorists in the area.
According to eyewitnesses, the tanker lost control due to a brake malfunction, colliding with a Toyota Prado SUV and another vehicle before toppling over and bursting into flames.
One eyewitness recounted the dramatic moment, saying, “The tanker hit a Prado jeep and another car. And in the process, the tanker fell and exploded.
“Although no casualty was recorded, the fire affected the car and the Prado jeep.”
The Oyo State Fire Service Chairman, Maroof Akinwande, confirmed the incident in a statement made in Ibadan, noting that prompt response from fire officials prevented further damage.
He said, “The incident was reported at exactly 18.27hrs on Thursday.
“The firemen swiftly swung into action by applying chemical foam compound and restricted the fire from spreading to the nearby Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation petrol station and surrounding properties. The fire was jointly extinguished with officers from the Federal Fire Service.
“The fire incident was as a result of failure of breaking in system of the truck whist on motion which made the vehicle lose control, hit a Prado jeep and a car, then fell and caught fire.
“No casualty was recorded but the fire affected the trailer tanker and a car, while a Jeep was hit by the trailer into the nearby gutter,” he explained.
Emergency responders have since cleared the scene while cautioning motorists to observe proper vehicle maintenance to avoid similar occurrences.
