The Fire Service Agency of Oyo State has prevented a petrol tanker explosion at Onigari village on the Oyo/Ogbomoso expressway.
The tanker, which was reportedly carrying 45,000 litres of premium motor spirit, lost control while in motion, fell by the roadside, leading to a gush.
According to The Punch, multiple witnesses said that the incident occurred around 12:20 pm on Thursday.
An eyewitness, Remi Olasunkanmi, said, “The incident occurred when the driver was trying to manoeuvre the potholes. Immediate intervention and deployment of the fire service men saved the day, the petrol tanker would have gone in flames.”
However, the state Chairman of the Fire Service, Maroof Akinwande, confirmed the incident to our correspondent in Ibadan, the state capital, on Friday.
He said, “The Oyo zonal command saved the falling petrol tanker trailer from explosion at Onigari village, Oyo, on the Oyo/Ogbomoso expressway.
“The incident was reported at exactly 12:34 hrs, on Thursday, July 3, through a running caller and Wahab Akeem to a petrol tanker accident at the above address.
“Immediately, the firemen led by CFS Tijani promptly deployed to the scene of the incident and on getting there, we met an IVECO trailer tanker with the Registration No: Kaduna: BKA 661 XA of 45,000 litres capacity loaded with PMS lost control whilst in motion and fell by the roadside, cab detached and contents gushing out.
“The agency personnel swiftly swung into action by applying necessary chemicals and observing all precautionary measures to avoid imminent fire and likely explosion that might lead to a fire disaster.
“A team of SAFER highway patrol were also in attendance for security cover,” the chairman said.
