71 KILLED, 17 VEHICLES BURNT IN IBADAN PETROL TANKER INFERNO

A pregnant woman and 70 other persons were killed on Saturday night at a popular Molete Market of Ibadan, Oyo State capital when a tanker loaded with fuel crashed and cut fire. Seventeen vehicles were also burnt in the inferno.
When Nigerian Pilot visited the scene yesterday, residents and traders in the area were mourning the victims.Eyewitnesses said there were charred bodies of 71 victims, including a pregnant woman and her children. One of the eyewitnesses, who described himself as a commercial motorcyclist (Okada rider), said that the corpses of the victims were kept in two commercial buses on Saturday night before they were taken away for burial.
As at yesterday morning, the atmosphere in and around Molete was sober as sympathisers and those whose shops and vehicles were burnt were wailing and counting their losses.
Nigerian Pilot counted 17 burnt vehicles at the scene of the accident.
The corpse of the pregnant woman and two other bodies were found inside one of the burnt vehicles, which witnesses claimed were her children. They said her husband went out of the car to buy bread when the fire from the burning tanker caught up with them inside the car.
When he returned, the husband collapsed and was taken to a private hospital where he was being attended to as at press time.
Sources further told our correspondent that many of those who died took refuge inside nearby shops when the fire started but were caught in the inferno inside the structures.
One of the witnesses said: “Last night, we were just removing corpses from the shops here. When the fire started, many people ran inside the shops but the fire caught up with them and since it was already at night, they were caught unawares as they did not know where to run to. We put their corpses inside two commuter buses before we took them away from here for burial.”
It was also observed that no fewer than thirty shops and other buildings in the area were either completely or partially razed.
As at yesterday afternoon, officials of the state fire service and that of state transport management authority were still managing situation at the scene of the accident while firefighters kept vigil on the carcass of the burnt tanker. Security operatives were also seen at the scene, controlling the crowd.
Gov Ajimobi visits accident scene, consoles victims’ families
Meanwhile, Oyo State Governor, Abiola Ajimobi, has commiserated with the families of those who lost their lives in the disaster and prayed that God grants the repose of their souls.
Ajimobi told journalists yesterday morning at the scene of the inferno that a petrol tanker somersaulted in the area on Saturday night and poured its content in the process.
The ensuing inferno led to the death of the victims who were mostly traders beside the bridge.
Governor Ajimobi, who arrived at the venue at about 8am, was visibly shaken by the gory sight of the inferno. Accompanied by the State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Kola Sodipo, he was conducted round the scene.
He ordered that a crane should be brought to take the carcass of the tanker which had crossed the road from obstructing traffic on the highway.
Ajimobi enjoined the families of the deceased to take solace in the fact that death would come when it will.
He said that many who sought to take political advantage out of his administration’s genuine love for the people of the state, especially traders who traded on the streets, must have seen the danger of politicising genuine government policies.
Source: Nigerian Pilot