Abeokuta tanker inferno: Two dead, property worth millions destroyed

Bankole Taiwo, Abeokuta

Barely two weeks after a tanker fire incident around Ogere Remo axis of Lagos-Ibadan expressway leading to loss of three lives, another tanker carrying Premium Motor Spirit popularly called petrol upturned itself in a lone crash around Oju-irin, Lafenwa area of Abeokuta early Sunday morning spilling its content on the road.

Spokesman of Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps (TRACE) Commander Babatunde Akinbiyi in a statement on Sunday explained that on getting wind of this crash, his agency (TRACE) police, officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) operatives of fire service were already at the scene coordinating transloading of the remaining petrol and ensuring free flow of traffic.

Akinbiyi however noted that while the security and safety agencies were busy salvaging the situation, members of the public came around to scoop fuel from the crash site and that it was while this was on going that fire sparked off leading to loss of two lives and properties that worth millions of naira.

He said “two lives were lost in the unfortunately inferno, that of a grandmother and grand child, whose gender cannot be ascertained, while property worth millions of naira were destroyed. The bodies of the two casualties have been deposited at the morgue of the General Hospital, Ijaiye, Abeokuta.

“Moreover, two patrol vans belonging to TRACE Divisional Command, Abeokuta, and two heavy duty vehicles belonging to the Federal and State Fire Service, were also vandalised, with some the operatives of TRACE and fire service were also assaulted during the rescue operation”.

He added that while the agency commiserates with the families of the deceased victims and those who lost properties in the unfortunate inferno, members of the public should please show more understanding, support and cooperation in future rescue efforts to avert more catastrophic consequences.