Four vehicles and several houses were destroyed in a fire after petrol-laden trucks caught fire at Ajia, along the Ibadan-Ife road, on Saturday.
The vehicles involved in the fire included a petrol tanker, an 18-seater bus, a mid-sized truck, and a Micra taxi.
The accident occurred near the Ajia Circular Road in Egbeda Local Government Area, causing severe traffic congestion on the highway. Motorists and commuters were stranded for hours as the Federal Fire Service, supported by security personnel, worked to bring the situation under control.
Eyewitness Adegbola Nurudeen described the incident as devastating, stating that the truck lost control at the Ajia village junction, igniting the blaze. The fire spread to vehicles on the other side of the road, with passengers managing to escape but suffering injuries in the process.
At the time of this report, it remains unconfirmed whether there were fatalities.
General Manager of the State Fire Services, Mr. Yemi Akinyinka, confirmed the incident, stating, “On September 7, 2024, around 5:45 PM, a fire erupted inside a petroleum truck. The blaze destroyed the truck’s pump, displaced several families, and caused significant property damage.”
Preliminary investigations indicate that the fire may have been triggered by residents attempting to siphon fuel from the leaking truck. Several individuals sustained minor injuries.
