A tanker explosion on Saturday along Lead City University Road, near the Ibadan Toll Gate in the Oyo State capital, has destroyed properties worth millions of naira.
The explosion occurred around 2:45 p.m., causing significant damage to nearby shops, vehicles, and motorcycles.
According to reports, one of the affected shops reportedly housed computer sets valued at several millions of naira, all of which were lost to the blaze.
As of the time of filling out this report, there was no confirmation of the loss of life, as the driver of the truck and his motorboy narrowly escaped death.
Men of the Oyo State Fire Service, aided by the Federal Service, were on the scene to bring the situation under control.
One of the affected shop owners, who declined to provide her name, stated, “I just heard a bang from outside. I initially mistook it for gunshots. Before I knew what was going on, the environment was filled with heavy 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, 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 manoeuvre 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.”
Speaking on the incident, the General Manager of the State Fire Service, Yemi Akinyinka, said, “Our men are on the ground at the scene of the incident.”
Security operatives have been strategically positioned in the area in order to prevent breakdown of law and order by the affected shop owners.
