On Tuesday, a tragic accident occurred in Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State, resulting in the deaths of two individuals: the driver of a petrol tanker and his assistant, commonly referred to as the motor boy. Akinyemi Akinyinka, the Oyo State Fire Services Agency’s general manager, who verified the occurrence, said that the agency’s quick action prevented a more serious catastrophe.

The incident was reported at approximately 5:01 AM by Mr. Moruf Balogun, who observed a petrol tanker that had fallen opposite the Total Filling Station at Orita Challenge. Following the report, fire personnel, led by Assistant Chief Fire Service Officer (ACFS) Olubunmi Christy, were rapidly deployed to the scene.

Upon arrival, the fire team discovered that the petrol tanker was engulfed in flames after it had fallen. To prevent the fire from spreading, a second fire truck, led by ACFS Adekola, was dispatched to assist. The agency utilized foam chemical compounds to bring the fire under control quickly.

Unfortunately, the driver and his apprentice sustained severe burns. They were recovered from the site and handed over to the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) for transport to a hospital. Akinyinka reported that personnel from Sumal Food Limited also joined the efforts to manage the situation, with the fire services remaining on scene to cool down the area and ensure the fire was completely extinguished.

The driver was attempting to cross the roundabout at the Total Filling Station when the accident occurred, according to preliminary findings, because his brakes failed. This failure led to the tanker colliding with a concrete barrier, resulting in the vehicle overturning and catching fire.