The explosion occurred at approximately 2:45pm when a tanker, attempting to navigate a deteriorated portion of the road, toppled and exploded.
A devastating tanker explosion on Saturday afternoon wreaked havoc along Lead City University Road, near the Ibadan Toll Gate, causing the destruction of shops, vehicles, and motorcycles.
Properties worth several millions of naira were lost in the incident.
The explosion occurred at approximately 2:45pm when a tanker, attempting to navigate a deteriorated portion of the road, toppled and exploded.
One of the worst-hit establishments was a shop containing high-value computer equipment, all of which were consumed by the fire, according to PUNCH.
Emergency responders, including personnel from the Oyo State Fire Service and the Federal Fire Service, were quickly deployed to the scene to contain the blaze.
Fortunately, there were no confirmed casualties, as the tanker’s driver and his assistant narrowly escaped the inferno.
Recounting her experience, a distraught shop owner, who chose to remain anonymous, was quoted as saying, “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, who attributed the accident to the poor condition of the road, 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, General Manager of the Oyo State Fire Service, Yemi Akinyinka, said, “Our men are on the ground at the scene of the incident.”
In response to the situation, security operatives have reportedly been deployed to the area to prevent any possible breakdown of law and order by aggrieved shop owners.
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