Four people, toddler burnt to death in Akure

NO fewer than five people including an eight months old baby were burnt to death on Wednesday evening when a petrol tanker fell and caught fire in Akure/Owo road in Ondo state.

The petrol tanker carrying 33,000 liters of petrol lost control and fell around Shagari Village junction and spilled its content on the road before catching fire.

It was gathered that the residents of the area who responded to the incident averted another occurrence as the incident was said to have occurred few meters to an NNPC petrol station.

An eyewitness explained that the occupants of the tanker were burnt beyond recognition explaining that they were trapped inside the truck.

He said the tanker, after falling, spilled its content on the road and later caught fire, burning no fewer than seven vehicles, which included a commercial bus and six private cars, as well as many motorcycles while two houses and many shops along the road were also affected.

ALSO READ: Police arrest neighbour for alleged killing of sickly septuagenarian in Osun

The eyewitness explained that “the tanker was on a high speed when a Toyota Corolla car suddenly crossed the road, as the tanker driver was trying to avoid hitting the car, he swerved off his lane and the vehicle fell on the car and caught fire immediately.  ”

He, however, said men of the state fire servicemen did not attend to the fire on time raising the number of casualties, saying some men of the state police command and the men of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps also made efforts to avoid more casualties.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Mr Femi Joseph said the cause of the inferno was not known at the time of filing this report but said: “Our men were on ground, we  will investigate the incident.”

The Head of Operation of the Federal Road Safety Corps in the state, Mr Ogungbemile Olusegun, could not be reached for comments as his telephone line was ringing but not picked.