Monday, April 22nd won’t be forgotten so soon by the residents of Ode-Olo, Inalende and Omitowoyin in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital as property worth several millions of Naira were lost when a fuel-laden tanker spilled its content and caught fire.
Over 25 houses and 45 shops were razed in the area.
According to an eye witness, the tanker fell on its side when the driver, who against advice, chose to ply on a narrow road in a residential area.
It was learnt that the content spilled on St. Stephen Primary School junction, where a food vendor was cooking which ignited the fire.
Confirming the tragic incident, National Emergency Management Agency,NEMA, Southwest information officer, Ibrahim Fariwoye, blamed the incident on the stubbornness of the driver.
Fariwoye said, “The PMS tanker fell near residential buildings and close to a woman cooking. Presently (on Monday evening), 25 houses and 42 shops have been burnt.
“Fire fighting operations are ongoing and the details of casualties cannot be ascertained as it is dark. Search and recovery will start as soon as the fire is brought under control by firemen.”
DailyPost gathered that the fire that started at about 6.20pm rendered no fewer than 80 residents homeless.
A resident, who identified herself as Iya Kafaya wailed uncontrollably. She was said to have lost everything to the fire.
Many of the residents shouted out to ensure that their members were not trapped inside the houses that were on fire.
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