No fewer than six people, including a motorcyclist, were killed on Tuesday when a tanker carrying 45,000 liters of Premium Motor Spirit lost control and ran over several tricycles in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, with several others sustaining varying degrees of injuries.
Eyewitnesses noted that the accident occurred at the Fruits Market along the Oje-Beere route in the Ibadan South East Local Government Area. The trailer reportedly suffered brake failure while descending the busy Mapo-Beere-Oje roads.
One of the affected tricycle drivers, Ademola Aderibigbe, who sustained minor leg injuries, stated that he narrowly escaped death.
“I was so lucky. I was around the Beere roundabout, testing my tricycle after leaving the mechanic workshop.
“Suddenly, I heard a terrible sound pushing me aside. By the time I came out of the tricycle, the trailer was already heading towards the Oje axis,” he said.
Aderibigbe further stated that the tanker destroyed more than five tricycles, killing six individuals on the scene. “There was a woman whose remains were packed inside polythene,” he told me.
Another eyewitness, Suleiman Oguntayo, expressed concern about the frequency of accidents on the route. “The driver lost control at the beer end of the road, crashing into two tricycles and killing the passengers before continuing to the popular Oje market, where four more people died. “Several more are being treated at local hospitals,” he said.
A relative of one of the victims told the Mapo Divisional Police Station that the victim had just christened his daughter three days earlier. “My brother’s gone.” He left behind a 10-day-old child,” the relative stated, sobbing.
An Okada rider known as Gafaru stated the death toll could be greater than six, pointing out that several victims were wrapped in polyethylene and could not be identified.
Confirming the occurrence, a senior police official stated that the case would be forwarded to the criminal inquiry department for further inquiry.
Olayinka Ayanlade, the Oyo Police public relations officer, verified the accident but did not disclose an exact number of casualties.
