At least five people have died after a diesel tanker crashed into several vehicles along the Iwo Road-Ojoo Expressway in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital. The accident occurred around 10 am on Saturday at Aduloju Bus Stop, opposite Dominion City, and involved a fully loaded diesel tanker and several vehicles, including commercial Nissan Micra cars. The General Manager of the Oyo State Road Traffic Management Authority (OYRTMA), Adeoye Ayoade, confirmed the incident to Sunday PUNCH.
Ayoade explained that the crash followed a traffic build-up caused by a broken-down trailer carrying motor spare parts at Arilogu. According to him, the trailer broke down around 5 am, and its driver was taken to hospital while arrangements were being made to transfer the cargo to another vehicle. The incident caused traffic to build up along the route, leaving vehicles moving slowly as motorists waited for the obstruction to be cleared.
He said the diesel tanker subsequently lost its brakes and fell, involving about six vehicles, including private cars and commercial Micras. The tanker’s container rolled onto one of the Micra cars, crushing it and trapping its occupants. Ayoade said the five people inside the vehicle, comprising two men, including the driver, and three women, died in the crash.
The Oyo State Police Public Relations Officer, Olayinka Ayanlade, also confirmed the accident, saying it occurred around Kajorepo. He said the Commissioner of Police, Abimbola Ayodeji Olugbenga, directed the Divisional Police Officer in Kajorepo and nearby patrol teams to secure the scene and assist in rescuing those involved. Ayanlade added that the victims’ bodies were taken to the Adeoyo Hospital Mortuary, while the damaged vehicles were towed to a police station. Personnel from OYRTMA, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and the police were deployed to manage the scene.
Videos circulating online showed the tanker’s container resting on top of the Micra, trapping the driver and passengers inside. The tanker was later lifted, allowing emergency personnel to recover the victims’ remains from the wreckage. The crash caused heavy traffic congestion along the busy expressway as officials worked to clear the road. However, Ayoade later said the affected vehicles had been removed and traffic flow had been restored.
