Six persons have been confirmed dead in a multiple-vehicle accident involving tankers, articulated trucks and cars at the Ibadan toll gate axis of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
The Oyo State Fire Service confirmed the incident, which occurred on Friday night and triggered a fire outbreak that left motorists stranded for several hours as traffic built up along the busy route on Saturday.
In a statement, the Chairman of the Oyo State Fire Service, Moroof Akinwande, said eight other victims were rescued from the wreckage and handed over to the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) for urgent medical attention.
He explained that the agency received a distress call at about 9:29pm from a police officer, Sola Rotimi, prompting the immediate deployment of firefighters to the scene.
According to him, responders met about six vehicles involved in the crash, including gas tankers, articulated trucks and two cars, with parts of the scene already engulfed in flames.
“The crew quickly swung into action, and the fire was restricted from spreading to other vehicles and nearby properties,” Akinwande said.
He added that preliminary findings suggest brake failure may have caused the crash.
Akinwande urged motorists to exercise caution on highways and ensure their vehicles are equipped with functional fire extinguishers to help manage emergencies before they escalate.
Eyewitness videos circulating on social media showed long queues of stranded vehicles as burnt tankers blocked sections of the expressway, with charred remains scattered across the road.
Commuters expressed frustration over the prolonged gridlock, which lasted for hours.
Popular comedian Bayegun Oluwatoyin, known as Woli Arole, was also caught in the traffic and shared a video on Facebook describing the situation as severe.
He said motorists had been trapped for three to four hours and advised people heading toward Ibadan to delay their trips, noting that the congestion was near the Guru Maharaj Ji area.
Authorities are yet to confirm when normal traffic flow will be fully restored.
Tribune
