17 killed in Ogun petrol tanker explosion

Explosion at Adekunle Ajasin University

No fewer than 17 persons have died following an explosion from a petrol tanker in Ogun State on Friday.

The tanker caught fire along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway in Ogun State at about 5 a.m.

Spokesperson of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Ogun, Florence Okpe, said 14 of the bodies were burnt beyond recognition, adding that the FRSC was able to identify one man, one woman, and a girl.

She added that the tanker had a head-on collision with a Mazda bus marked, ZT728 KLD.

“The total number of people involved is not ascertained, but a total of 17 bodies have been identified,” said Okpe.

“One male, one female, and one female child only have been identified, while others were burnt beyond recognition and no injury sustained.

“The suspected causes of the fatal crash were route violation and dangerous driving, which resulted in a head-on collision and fire outbreak.”

Ogun FRSC Sector Commander, Ahmed Umar, described the crash as an avoidable one if one of the drivers had obeyed traffic rules and regulations.

Umar also condoled the families of the victims, enjoining them to contact the FRSC office in Ogere for more information about the crash.