Tanker Explosion Sparks Panic in Ibadan, No Casualties Reported

A petrol tanker carrying 33,000 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) exploded on Thursday evening at Celica Junction along the new Ife Expressway in Ibadan, Oyo State, causing panic among residents and motorists.

Eyewitnesses said the incident occurred after the tanker suffered a brake failure, forcing the driver to lose control before the vehicle overturned and caught fire. The tanker reportedly collided with a Prado SUV and another car before the explosion.

“The tanker hit a Prado jeep and another car, and in the process, it fell and exploded. Although no casualty was recorded, the fire affected the car and the Prado jeep,” an eyewitness said.

Confirming the incident, the Oyo State Fire Service Chairman, Maroof Akinwande, said the fire was contained before it could spread to nearby facilities, including a NNPC filling station.

“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,” Akinwande stated.

He added that no casualties were recorded, though the tanker and one car were completely burnt, while the Prado SUV was pushed into a gutter by the impact.

The accident was attributed to a braking system failure while the truck was in motion.

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