From News Editor
Four vehicles and several houses were burnt as petrol-loaded trucks caught fire at Ajia, along the Ibadan-Ife road, on Saturday.
The affected vehicles included a petrol-loaded truck, an 18-passenger bus, another mid-sized truck, and a Micra taxi.
The accident, which occurred at the Ajia Circular Road end in Egbeda Local Government Area, caused a traffic gridlock on the highway. Motorists and commuters were stranded for several hours as the Federal Fire Service, in conjunction with security agencies, worked to bring the situation under control.
Giving an eyewitness account, Adegbola Nurudeen described the incident as devastating. He stated that the truck lost control at the Ajia village junction.
According to him, the affected vehicles were on the other side of the express lane when the fire spread to them. The passengers of the vehicles managed to escape but sustained injuries.
As of the time of filing this report, it could not be officially confirmed whether lives were lost in the incident.
However, the General Manager of the State Fire Services, Mr. Yemi Akinyinka, confirmed the incident.
According to him, “On September 7, 2024, at approximately 5:45 PM, a devastating fire broke out inside a petroleum truck. The fire ravaged the truck’s pump, displacing several families and causing significant damage to property.”
Preliminary investigations suggest that the fire was caused by some residents trying to use the fuel leak for their benefit. Some people suffered minor injuries. {Tribune online}
