Tanker Gut Fire Property Worth Millions Destroyed 14 Severely Injured

A tanker laden with 33,000 litres of petrol fell off Iyana-Ipaja bridge resulting in an explosion which triggered a fire that raged for about 10 hours.

No fewer than 14 people were injured, while property worth millions of naira was destroyed, yesterday, in Lagos.

Affected property include a popular recording company, Remi Odus; electrical cables, three buildings, 44 shops, six tricycles and 22 vehicles, among others.

The incident happened around 1 am when the tanker which was moving from Agege end of the road lost control and fell off the bridge at Iyana-Ipaja, spilling its contents which spread to five adjoining streets on the axis.

There were conflicting accounts about the cause of the incident which some people attributed to fatigue on the part of the driver, while others said it was caused by brake failure.

State governor, Akinwumi Ambode, has since visited the scene of the inferno, pledging to look into the situation.

The affected areas included Adebayo, Jafojo, Oremeji, Abule Oki, Ipaja Road and Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway.

Eye witnesses’ accounts said both the tanker driver and his conductor escaped unhurt, while 14 others sustained minor injuries and were treated and discharged by medics of the Lagos State Ambulance Services, LASAMBUS.

While the inferno lasted, some street urchins, popularly known as area boys, took advantage of the situation to loot several shops, carting away valuables.

The arrival of law enforcement agents, however, restored order in the area.

One of the victims, Remi Odus, who spoke with Vanguard, lamented that the incident was sudden and could send the victims out of business.

“Many of us stocked our shops with goods before the close of work, unknown to us that tragedy will occur. Millions of Naira have been lost and the tanker driver is nowhere to be found,” he said.