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Many persons are feared dead after a petrol-laden tanker exploded around Oju Irin in Lafenwa area of Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.
It was gathered that the explosion occurred on Sunday morning.
An unconfirmed number of persons were affected by the incident, including shops and buildings.
Babatunde Akinbiyi, the spokesperson of the state-owned Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps (TRACE), confirmed the incident in a statement.
Akinbiyi said the tanker exploded owing to the uncooperative attitude of people around the axis, who he said were scooping petrol, which sparked the explosion.
He said the tanker, owing to an axle problem, overturned around 4:45am while making its way inbound Rounder from Oju Irin, in Lafenwa, causing it to spill its content on the road.
Akinbiyi asked residents to vacate the vicinity, saying TRACE, Police, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and Fire Service officials are on ground to bring the situation under control.
“Moreover, the motoring public going inward Rounder axis from Lafenwa, should use Olomore and Oke-Ata axis respectively as alternative routes, since traffic has been diverted away from the area of incident,” he added.
Akinbiyi said further information will be provided to the media as soon as possible.
Ahmed Umar, the FRSC Sector Commander in Ogun State,also confirmed the incident, saying officers of the command are around to control traffic.