By correspondent in Ilorin.
No fewer than twenty five persons lost their lives and about 15 others sustained varying degrees of injury sequel to a fire disaster that occured at Bode Saadu in the Moro local government area of Kwara state on Tuesday.
Sources said the tragedy happened when a articulated vehicle (tanker), carrying petrol, with registration number JJN 17 XW, a heavy-duty truck and an 18-seater bus collided at about 3:18p.m at Peke village along Oko-Olowo, Bode Saadu expressway in the local government area of the state.
Speaking on the incident ,the Head of Department (HOD), Media and Publicity, state Fire Service, Hakeem Adekunle,explained that the petrol tanker, travelling from Niger state, was on wrong lane,a development that resulted in a head-on collision with a heavy-duty truck from Lagos state.
He said:”The collision ignited a fire that rapidly consumed both vehicles, also affecting the 18-seater bus from Lagos”.
“On November 28, 2023, around 15:18 hours, the Kwara State Fire Service responded to a fire at Peke village along Oko-Olowo Bode Saadu Expressway in Moro Local Government Area, Kwara State.
“The incident involved a petrol tanker with registration number JJN 17 XW, a heavy-duty truck, and an 18-seater bus.
“Investigations revealed that the petrol tanker, traveling from Niger state, was using the wrong side of the road, resulting in a head-on collision with a heavy-duty truck from Lagos state.
“The collision ignited a fire that rapidly consumed both vehicles, also affecting the 18-seater bus from Lagos.
“Expressing deep sorrow, the Director of the Kwara State Fire
Service emphasized the need for road users to prioritize safe driving practices, issuing a warning to adhere to safety measures consistently”.
Edited by Dada Ahmed.
