Tanker fire rocks Oyo community, destroys property

There was panic on Thursday when a tanker conveying petrol skidded off the road and rammed into shops at Apata, Ibadan, Oyo State.

PUNCH Metro gathered that residential buildings, shops, cars and a filling station were burnt in the inferno, which started around 7pm.

Some of the affected vehicles were reportedly parked by the roadside by their owners.

Videos of the incident circulated on social media showed residents in panic as the fire raged on, consuming everything in its path.

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An official of the Oyo State Fire Service, CSM Adebimpe Busayo, who confirmed the incident, said the situation was under control.

“Our men are working at the scene. It’s under control,” she told our correspondent on the phone.

Asked if casualties were recorded, she said, “Yes,” adding that she didn’t have details of the actual number.

Busayo also confirmed reports that an Oando Filling Station was affected but couldn’t state the level of damage it suffered.

Contacted, the Head of the National Emergency Management Agency in Ibadan, Saheed Akiode, said men of the Federal Fire Service drafted to the area had put off the fire.

He noted that though some buildings were affected by the fire, no life was lost.

Akiode said, “No life was lost but some buildings were affected, which the tanker ran into before it exploded. The firemen have all returned to their base station and everything is under control.”