Three people have been confirmed dead following a gas explosion that occurred in the Biodun Alaadun area of Ona Ara Local Government Area in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, on Friday night.
Despite unverified claims suggesting a higher death toll, the Oyo State Fire Service team—led by its General Manager, Mr. Akinyinka Akinyemi and among the first responders—confirmed that three individuals lost their lives.
Reports revealed that the explosion happened while a tanker was offloading gas at a retail outlet.
Those who died were said to include the owner of the gas shop and others who were in the vicinity when the incident happened.
The General Manager of the Oyo State Fire Services Agency, Yemi Akinyinka, verified the development during a telephone interview with Channels Television.
He explained that “contrary to the claim by some that several people lost their lives, three lives were lost, including the shop owner and those dispensing the gas.”
He noted that emergency responders were quickly dispatched to bring the situation under control.
Akinyinka added that normalcy had been restored to the community and that the affected individuals had been evacuated.