Mowe, (an24) – No fewer than 13 people were on Wednesday, May, 4, 2016 killed and 4 injured in a fire incident at the Lotto area of Mowe along Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
Speaking after the accident, the Lagos state Police Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, said, “No fewer than 13 people were burnt beyond recognition. About five vehicles were also burnt.
“We urge those whose relatives are missing to come forward for possible identification because for now we cannot recognise anybody,”Adejobi added.
The tragic incident occurred after a tanker belonging to Total Nigeria Plc had skidded off the road in an attempt to avoid crashing into a herd of cows walking on the expressway.
The fuel spilled on the road and into the gutter, before the tanker reported crashed before it went up in flames killing 13 people and 4 cows.
Confirming the accident, the Lagos state Police Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, said, “The road was soaked with fuel after the tanker fell. The police and the fire service men were trying to neutralise the power of the petrol when fire broke out. The fire service truck, which was on duty, was the first to be burnt”.
Furthermore, Ayodele Adetayo, an official of the Ogun State Fire Service was among the 4 other persons were injured in the inferno.
The injured victims were said to have been rushed to private hospitals before being transferred to the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital.
Meanwhile, the dead cows were removed on the road by Police officers attached to the Redemption Camp division as the herdsmen fled the scene immediately due to an attempt by residents to mob them.
More damage would have been averted had residents not come out to scoop the fuel spilled into the gutter.
While the residents were scooping the fuel spilled into the gutter, a Sports Utility Vehicle, SUV, which had a burst tire drove on its rim and ignited a fire.
The fire then engulfed an 18-seater bus driving behind it, two Hilux vans, a Dangote truck and a fire service truck, which was rounding off operation.