Just days after a similar incident rocked Ogbomoso, another petrol tanker crash has occurred, this time at the Alagbayun area of Odo-Oba in Oyo State. The latest accident took place on Wednesday and involved a Howo trailer with registration number BAU 586ZE, carrying 45,000 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS).
Eyewitnesses said the vehicle suddenly veered off its lane and came to a halt across the road, spilling fuel in large quantities. The situation triggered panic among nearby residents and motorists.
Emergency services quickly responded. Leading the operation, the Chairman of the Oyo State Fire Service, Maroof Akinwande, provided details of the incident.
“We arrived at the scene to find petrol pouring from the tanker,” Akinwande told reporters. “Our team immediately applied foam chemical compound to suppress the fuel’s flammability and eliminate the risk of fire.”
According to him, a mechanical fault in the engine compartment caused the tanker to lose control. He confirmed that no casualties occurred, and the fire service successfully removed the vehicle, restoring normal traffic flow shortly after.
The latest crash has intensified concerns over the rising number of fuel tanker incidents in Oyo State. Observers have pointed to repeated mechanical failures, weak enforcement of safety standards, and poor vehicle maintenance as major contributors to these accidents.
While no lives or property were lost in this case, many residents say the region is operating on borrowed time. Several community leaders and safety advocates have renewed calls for tighter regulations on fuel transportation and stricter inspection protocols for petroleum tankers.
As tanker mishaps become more frequent, pressure is mounting on both state authorities and the petroleum transport sector to prioritize public safety before a more devastating incident occurs.