18 people were reportedly burnt to death on Friday, in an accident which occurred along Lagos/Ibadan Expressway.
It occurred at Ade Best workshop after Isara Bridge, Remo North Local Government, inbound Lagos at about 4.00am.
Vehicles involved were a Mazda bus, Hovo tanker belonging to Dangote Group of Companies and two other unidentified vehicles.
Eyewitnesses’ account said the cause of the fire which roasted the 18 passengers could not be ascertained
It was learnt that the fatalities were two female teenagers and sixteen others whose gender could not be ascertained.
Vanguard gathered that the Dangote Howo tanker, whose content could not be ascertained allegedly drove in a direction prohibited by law, route violation, and in the process had an head-on collision with the Mazda bus, which was driving on its rightful lane.
Two other vehicles were said to be involved in the accident though the accurate account on how the fire engulfed the scene could not be ascertained.
It could not be ascertained if the tanker was laden with petroleum product, though eye witnesses’ account said the impact of the collision could have resulted into the inferno.
However, an eye witness who pleaded anonymity said there was the likelihood that either of the vehicles were laden with gallons of petrol as at the time of the incident.
The rescue operation which commenced at about 4.30am was performed by men of Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps (TRACE), the Nigeria Police and Federal Road Safety Corps FRSC.
At press time, the remains of the victims were in the vehicle waiting for the next line of action while the accident were about to be towed off the scene of the incident which had obstructed free flow of traffic on the axis.
TRACE Spokesperson, Babatunde Akinbiyi confirmed the incident saying proper investigations would be carried out.
He admonished road users to be conscious of safety on Nigeria roads. “No doubt, this is a catastrophic and heart wrenching incidence which calls to question our attitude/disposition as road users towards safety.
“While TRACE Corps commiserate with the family of the deceased families, articulated vehicle drivers are again warned against route violation In view of its attendant consequences.” Said the Spokesperson.
