Kwara: 25 die, 15 injured in petrol tanker fire

A tragic incident in Kwara State on Tuesday resulted in the loss of at least 25 lives and left 15 others with serious injuries following a petrol tanker fire.

The accident unfolded at Peke village along the Oko-Olowo area on the Ilorin/Bode-Saadu/Jebba express road. The collision involved a petrol tanker with registration number JJN 17 XW, a heavy-duty truck from Lagos State, and an 18-seater bus.

Eyewitnesses revealed that the petrol tanker, en route from Niger State, was traveling on the wrong side of the road, leading to a head-on collision with the Lagos-bound heavy-duty truck. The impact sparked a fire that rapidly engulfed both vehicles, also affecting the 18-seater bus from Lagos.

The Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps, Mr. Stephen Dawulung, confirmed the incident, promising to provide details later. He mentioned that some of the recovered corpses had already been buried by their relatives.

The Kwara State Director of Fire Service, Mr. John Falade, also verified the incident, stating that firefighters responded to the blaze around 3:18 p.m. on Tuesday. Despite their efforts to extinguish the inferno, 25 lives were tragically lost, and around 15 people were rescued with injuries.

Expressing deep sorrow over the incident, Falade emphasized the importance of safe driving practices and urged road users to consistently adhere to safety measures. He issued a stern warning to drivers and other road users to prioritize safety while on the roads.