Two persons lost their lives in a petrol tanker accident and fire at Pasa village on the Ilorin–Jebba highway, Moro Local Government Area of Kwara State, on Tuesday.
The deceased were identified as the tanker driver and his motor boy.
The tragic incident occurred at about 3:43 pm when the petrol tanker, with registration number NSR 966 ZQ, carrying 30,000 litres of petrol, reportedly lost control, veered off the road, and overturned, igniting a massive fire.
According to a statement by the spokesman of the State Fire Service, Hassan Adekunle, in Ilorin on Tuesday: “Emergency crews arrived promptly and extinguished the blaze, preventing further spread to nearby traffic.
“Sadly, the driver and the motor boy lost their lives immediately at the scene of the accident.”
The Director of the Kwara State Fire Service, Prince Falade John Olumuyiwa, commiserated with the families of the deceased and advised all road users, particularly tanker drivers, to exercise the highest level of caution on highways.
He stressed the need for regular vehicle maintenance, strict adherence to speed limits, avoidance of night journeys where possible, and proper rest for drivers to prevent fatigue-related accidents.
The director further urged motorists to always keep fire extinguishers in their vehicles and promptly report emergencies to the fire service for timely intervention.
