Five people have lost their lives in a fatal road crash involving a diesel tanker and several vehicles in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.
The accident occurred at about 10 am on Saturday around Aduloju Bus Stop, opposite Dominion City, along the Iwo Road-Ojoo Expressway.
The crash involved a fully loaded tanker and several vehicles, including commercial Nissan Micra cars. The General Manager of the Oyo State Road Traffic Management Authority (OYRTMA), Adeoye Ayoade, said the incident followed a traffic build-up caused by a broken-down trailer in the Arilogu area earlier in the morning.
Explaining the circumstances surrounding the crash, Ayoade said the tanker suffered brake failure and overturned, with its container landing on a commercial Micra.
He said, “A long trailer carrying motor spare parts broke down at the Arilogu area around 5 am. They said the driver was taken to the hospital while they were waiting for the vehicle that would transload it. So, the traffic started building up there, causing a long traffic.
“The tanker carrying diesel lost its brake and fell. About six vehicles were involved in the crash, both private cars and Micra. The tank on the truck then rolled on top of one of the Micra.
“The five people inside the Micra, two males including the driver at the front and three females sitting at the back, died.”
The Oyo State Police Command also confirmed the crash. Its spokesperson, Olayinka Ayanlade, said the incident happened in the Kajorepo area.
He explained that the Commissioner of Police, Abimbola Ayodeji Olugbenga, ordered the divisional police officer and nearby patrol teams to secure the scene and assist those involved immediately after receiving the report.
Ayanlade said, “Yes, there was an accident earlier today at around Kajorepo. Immediately, this report got to the command, the Commissioner of Police, Oyo State Police Command, CP Abimbola Ayodeji Olugbenga, directed the DPO Kajorepo and other nearby patrols to secure the scene and rescue those involved.”
The five victims’ remains were taken to the Adeoyo Hospital mortuary, while the damaged vehicles were evacuated to a police station, according to the OYRTMA boss.
Traffic officials, Federal Road Safety Corps personnel and police officers were mobilised to the location to coordinate emergency operations and ease the resulting congestion.
Footage from the scene showed the tanker’s container resting on a Micra car, leaving its occupants trapped inside. The container was later lifted to allow emergency personnel to recover the victims.
The accident brought traffic to a standstill along the busy route, but Ayoade said the wrecked vehicles had been removed and movement had returned to normal.
