A wave of panic swept through the Odinjo area of Ibadan on Tuesday following a fire outbreak involving a petrol-laden tanker with a capacity of 33,000 litres. The incident occurred near Muslim Grammar School, along the Ibadan end of the Lagos-Ibadan highway.
Eyewitnesses at the scene recounted that the petrol tanker fell on its side after the driver reportedly lost control while attempting to navigate a stretch of damaged road. The vehicle skidded off its path and tipped over, eventually catching fire.
The sudden blaze sent residents, commuters, and nearby shop owners fleeing in fear, as thick smoke billowed into the sky and flames engulfed part of the area. However, despite the intensity of the fire, no lives were lost, according to multiple sources.
“The truck fell on its side after veering off the road while trying to avoid a bad spot,” an eyewitness narrated. “Thankfully, the fire service arrived just in time. If not, it could have been a real disaster.”
Officials of the Oyo State Fire Service swiftly responded to the emergency. Their prompt intervention was credited with preventing the fire from escalating into a major catastrophe that could have resulted in significant loss of life or property.
Speaking on the development, the General Manager of the State Fire Service, Reverend Akinyemi Akinyinka, confirmed the incident occurred in the Odinjo area. He noted that firefighters had been deployed to the scene to control the situation, but added that a detailed assessment of the damage was still underway.
“As at the time of this report, I cannot give a comprehensive account of the damage,” Akinyinka said. “However, I can confirm that there were no fatalities.”
The incident also led to serious traffic congestion on the affected stretch of the Lagos-Ibadan expressway. The Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), along with other security agencies, quickly moved in to manage traffic and ensure order.
Additional reports indicate that a combined team of security personnel has since taken over the scene to ensure public safety and conduct preliminary investigations into the cause of the accident.