In a fuel tanker fire that occurred in Kwara State on Tuesday, no fewer than 25 people lost their lives and 15 others suffered serious injuries.
An accident at Peke Village along the Ilorin/Bode-Saadu/Jebba express road in the Oko-Olowo area caused the incident.
A heavy-duty truck, an 18-seater bus, and a fuel tanker with the registration number JJN 17 XW were all involved in the collision.
According to eyewitness reports, a heavy-duty truck from Lagos State and a petrol tanker from Niger State collided head-on because the tanker was driving on the wrong side of the road.
Additional information stated that, the collision started a fire that quickly spread to both vehicles and the 18-seater bus that was traveling from Lagos.
On Wednesday, Mr. Stephen Dawulung, the Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps, confirmed the accident to our correspondent and said he would get more information later.
He said, some of the bodies found at the scene had been interred by family members.
Mr. John Falade, the Kwara State Director of the Fire Service, also confirmed, firefighters were called to the village at around 3:18 p.m. on Tuesday.
“On November 28, 2023, around 15:18 hours, the Kwara State Fire Service responded to a fire at Peke village along Oko-Olowo Bode-Saadu Expressway in Moro Local Government Area, Kwara State.
“The firemen diligently worked to quench the inferno, but unfortunately, 25 lives were lost, and around 15 people were rescued with injuries,” he said.
.Falade emphasised the importance of road users prioritising safe driving practises and expressed his profound sorrow over the incident that resulted in numerous fatalities.
Additionally, he issued a warning to motorists and other users of the road to always follow safety precautions when operating a vehicle.
