Properties worth several millions of naira were destroyed on Saturday, following a tanker explosion along Lead City University Road, near the Ibadan Toll Gate in the Oyo State capital.
According to findings by PUNCH Online, the explosion occurred around 2:45 p.m., causing significant damage to nearby shops, vehicles, and motorcycles.
One of the affected shops reportedly housed computer sets valued at several millions of naira, all of which were lost to the blaze.
As of press time, there was no confirmation of the loss of life, as the driver of the truck and his motorboy narrowly escaped death.
Men of the Oyo State Fire Service, supported by the Federal Service, were on the ground to bring the situation under control.
One of the owners of the affected shops, who refused to mention her name, said, “I just heard a bang from outside. Initially, I mistook it for gunshots. Before I realised what was happening, the atmosphere had been enveloped with thick smoke.
“Calls were put through to the fire service. But before they arrived, the deeds had been done. I have lost everything to the inferno. I don’t know where to start again.”
An eyewitness, Tokunbo Ojo, said, “The driver of the affected truck has no reason to make a detour to the access route if not for the ongoing rehabilitation. As you can see, this road is dotted with potholes that make it difficult for the truck to navigate.
“The truck fell on one of its sides, and it exploded when its driver was trying to maneuver his way through the bad portion of the road.
“We thank God that no life was lost, but the property lost to the incident is unquantifiable.”
Confirming the incident to our correspondent in Ibadan, the state capital, the General Manager of the State Fire Service, Yemi Akinyinka, said, “Our men are on the ground at the scene of the incident.”
Meanwhile, security operatives have been strategically positioned in the area in order to prevent breakdown of law and order by the affected shop owners.
Source : Punch Newspaper
