Emmanuel Thomas, Lagos
June 2, 2015 – At least 44 shops were torched in Iyana Ipaja, a suburb of Lagos, when a petrol-laden tanker with registration nos. KJA 238 XN fell off the flyover that links Agege with Ipaja, spilling all 33,000 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) on the floor.
Twenty-one (21) vehicles and five houses were also burnt as the PMS spreads into adjourning streets.
We gathered that the tanker exploded on landing on the floor and caused colossal damage to the immediate environment.
“We were sleeping when we suddenly heard a loud explosion around 1:30am. We saw fuel dripping in the gutter and suddenly there was fire. We all ran for our dear lives. Some people jumped through the fence to escape from their houses,” Babatunde Onile who resides at No.2 Oremeji Street told reporters.
He described the incident as tragic and called on government to assist those affected.
“When the incident occurred, area boys entered shops of people to loot their belongings. They made away with generators and flat screen television,” he said.
Samson Adebanjo who lives at No. 11 Dakare Dafojo Street also related his ordeal when the area was engulfed by fire.
“We were sleeping when it happened. Everybody rushed out when they heard explosion. We could not escape through the main door, so we had to scale the fence with our children to escape. We want government to compensate us,” he added.
Director, Lagos Fire Service, Mr. Rasak Fadipe told reporters that the tanker fell from the bridge around 1:30am and exploded, saying that his men arrived the scene on time to battle the inferno.
He disclosed that 21 cars, six tricycles, 44 shops and five houses were burnt by the inferno which engulfed five streets in the area.
According to him, the affected streets are Adebanjo, Oki, Oremeji, Jafojo and Lagos-Abeokuta Road. He praised community members for informing the fire service on time adding that five fire trucks conveying about 50,000 litres of water was mobilised to battle the fire. As at the time of filing the report, the fire has been put off.
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode who was at the scene to sympathize with those affected said he is happy that there was no loss of lives but lamented the magnitude of destruction by the fire.
The governor decried the lawless activities of tanker drivers, which he said would no longer be tolerated.
“As at the last count, the agencies have been able to report that everything has been put under control. We’ve also recorded two other incidences, just like this one in other parts of Lagos overnight; one in Badagry and the other one in Ojo area.
“It would also mean that our tanker drivers have to start to do something about their operations. We cannot continue to record loss of lives and properties because our tanker drivers are not disciplined. While we are trying to address all that, we would ensure that all those who have lost properties including shops are assisted to get back to normal business”, he promised.
Also speaking, Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, Mr. Kayode Aderanti said the police will investigate the remote and immediate causes of the incident and bring to book whoever is responsible.
