An unconfirmed number of persons are reported dead following a tanker fire accident that occurred at midnight along the Abeokuta–Sagamu Expressway in Ogun State.

Babatunde Akinbiyi, spokesperson for the Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency (TRACE), confirmed the incident, stating that the fire began around 1 a.m. on Friday.

In a statement, Akinbiyi said, “The case of an inferno caused by a 30,000-litre fuel-laden tanker which fell on its side and spilled its contents around 0100hrs today.”

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The incident occurred “along the Abeokuta–Kobape–Siun–Sagamu Interchange stretch of the PMB Expressway, due to excessive speed and loss of control,” he added.

Akinbiyi noted that the fire also affected other vehicles, explaining, “The effect of the unfortunate incident also extended to the burning of a truck and a tow vehicle along the roadside, as well as the destruction of a PHCN cable supplying electricity to Mowe and environs.”

He added that “though the casualty figures cannot be ascertained presently, rescue and emergency services made up of TRACE, Ogun State and Nestlé PLC Fire Service, FRSC, and the Police are still on the ground to restore normalcy and orderliness after quenching the fire and carrying out the decantation process.”

The spokesperson urged motorists and the general public to exercise patience, saying, “The general public, particularly the motoring public on transit along the route, is implored to be calm, patient, and cooperate with the diversion and re-routing of traffic put in place by TRACE, Police, Ogun State Fire Service, FRSC, Amotekun, and the NSCDC.”

He concluded by expressing regret over the disruption, noting, “Any inconveniences as a result of this unfortunate incident are highly regretted.”