No fewer than 13 persons have been
killed after fire gutted five vehicles at the Lotto, Mowe end of the
Lagos-Ibadan Expressway on Tuesday.
While some of the deceased were reported
to have been scooping fuel from a fallen tanker, others were said to be
passengers in a commercial bus and two Hilux vans.
PUNCH Metro learnt that four
other persons were injured in the inferno, including an official of the
Ogun State Fire Service, identified as Ayodele Adetayo.
The injured victims were said to have
been rushed to private hospitals before being transferred to the Olabisi
Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital.
It was gathered that at about 3pm on
Monday, a fuel tanker belonging to Total Nigeria Plc, had fallen while
trying to avoid crashing into a herd of cows that had strayed onto the
expressway.
Four of the cows were reportedly killed just as some fuel spilled onto the road and into gutter.
Our correspondents were told that the herdsmen immediately fled the scene after residents attempted to mob them.
Policemen from the Redemption Camp
division were said to have removed the dead cows, and contacted Total to
send another truck for fuel transfer.
PUNCH Metro learnt that a new
truck arrived at the area around 11pm on Monday and was able to load the
fuel from the fallen tanker with the help of the Ogun State Fire
Service officials.
It was learnt that after the evacuation, the fallen tanker was towed away, while the new tanker also left the area.
It was gathered that some residents came out and started scooping the fuel spilled into the gutter.
Our correspondents gathered that at
about 1am, a Sports Utility Vehicle, which had a burst tyre, drove on
its rim, which ignited the fire that also engulfed it.
The fire was said to have engulfed an
18-seater bus driving behind it, two Hilux vans, a Dangote truck and a
fire service truck, which was rounding off operation.
PUNCH Metro learnt that some occupants of the vehicles were trapped and the fire burnt them beyond recognition.
An eyewitness, who gave her name only as
Sunmibare, said the fire service men were rolling their hose back into
the truck, when the fire started.
She added that the fire service official
that was injured, Adetayo, was rushed to Temitope Clinic – a private
health facility in the area.
She said, “One of the fire service men
was injured. The fire razed their truck and a Dangote truck beside it.
There was no hope of putting out the fire since the fire service men had
become helpless. The fire raged till about 7am.”
The Police Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, said 13 charred remains were recovered from the scene.
Adejobi, a Deputy Superintendent of
Police said, “The road was soaked with fuel after the tanker fell. The
police and the fire service men were trying to neutralise the power of
the petrol when fire broke out. The fire service truck, which was on
duty, was the first to be burnt.
“No fewer than 13 people were burnt
beyond recognition. About five vehicles were also burnt. We urge those
whose relatives are missing to come forward for possible identification
because for now we cannot recognise anybody.”
But the Commander, Federal Road Safety Corps, Mowe, Oludare Ogunjobi, said there was no casualty.
He said, “We had already secured the
area and removed the tanker from the scene. But some people came and
started scooping fuel. Suddenly, there was an explosion and in the
process, the fire service multi-purpose tanker and other four vehicles
were burnt. No life was lost and nobody sustained any injury. We were
able to clear the road after some hours of gridlock.”
Also, the Head of Operations, Ogun State
Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps, Ibafo, K.A. Ojerinde, said
four persons sustained injuries, adding that some people were feared
dead.
He said, “About five cars were burnt and
some people feared dead. We have moved the affected vehicles from the
expressway. Three of the fire service men sustained injuries. They have
been transferred to OOUTH for treatment.”
When PUNCH Metro visited
Temitope Clinic where one of the survivors was taken to, a matron, who
gave her name as Titilayo Salisu, said the victim had been referred to a
government hospital.
“The fire service official was brought
in around 1am. He was injured in the arms, hands and face. Some part of
his limbs were also damaged. After stabilising him, he was referred to a
government hospital,” she said.
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