Tanker explosion kills one, injures two in Ijebu Ode

A tanker loaded with fuel on Tuesday exploded on the Erunwon highway in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun state, killing one person and injuring two persons.

A witness, who identified himself as Adenuga Abayomi, said the tanker, which was coming from Erunwon, fell when it was trying to negotiate a roundabout.
Abayomi explained that when the tanker fell, the petrol inside it poured out trapping the driver and two other passengers. “when the tanker fell, we tried to rescue those trapped inside, but we were able to rescue two while we could not rescue the third person who was said  to be a motor boy before the tanker exploded.” he said
Confirming the incident, Ijebu-Ode Unit commander of FRSC, Mr.Issa Seidu, said the accident was caused by brake failure, adding that the explosion could have been avoided if not for the smoke emission from other vehicles plying the other side of the road.

The Ijebu-Ode Zonal Commander of the state Traffic Compliance Enforcement (TRACE), Hamzat Tommy, gave the tanker’s number plate as XC 577 WWW and confirmed that the body of the only victim had been deposited at the General Hospital mortuary in Ijebu-Ode.

The Ogun State Deputy Speaker, Tola Banjo, who visited the scene said,”It is an unfortunate incident but at the same time would have been prevented. It would have been averted if not for the careless attitude of other drivers whose vehicle emissions sparked off the fire.”