In Abeokuta, Ogun State, a scene of devastation occurred as a lone accident involving a gas truck rocked the Ita Oshin junction, just meters away from the roundabout.
The incident, which occurred around 5 p.m., sent shockwaves through the community, leaving people dead and several properties destroyed.
According to eyewitnesses, the gas truck, with the inscription
Gasco Marine, was en route inward to Abeokuta when it lost control, careening into the road pavement before coming to a halt. The driver, in a panic, fled the scene.
The truck’s assistant, known as the “truck boy,” lost his life in the accident, his remains gruesomely mutilated.
Authorities swiftly moved his body to the General Hospital, Ijaiye, where it was deposited.
The accident’s impact rippled beyond the immediate vicinity, engulfing four parked vehicles in flames and ravaging five nearby shops, with one reduced to ashes.
The intensity of the inferno prompted a rapid response from both Federal and Ogun State Fire Services, with four trucks mobilised to combat the blaze.
In the wake of the tragedy, Governor Abiodun issued a statement expressing profound sorrow over the loss of life and property.
I am deeply saddened by the tragic gas explosion that occurred in Abeokuta,” he lamented, extending heartfelt condolences to the victim’s family and expressing sympathy for affected business owners.
Acknowledging the swift response of emergency services and first responders, Governor Abiodun praised their efforts to control the situation.
He assured the public that authorities were diligently investigating the cause of the explosion and implementing measures to prevent future occurrences.
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