BY AKINWALE ABOLUWADE, IBADAN
There was pandemonium at Bode Market, Molete, Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, in the early hours of Sunday as a fully loaded gas tanker reportedly lost control and rammed into the market.
The gas tanker, coming from Idi-Arere, was said to be heading towards Gate area of Ibadan when the incident happened.
Visuals emanating from the scenes of the auto crash showed two dead bodies. However, eyewitnesses said that no fewer than five people lost their lives in the incident.
One of the eye witnesses (name not given), said he counted five lifeless bodies.
Officials of the Oyo State Fire Service were on hand at the scene to ensure that fire outbreak was averted.
Security men were also around to forestall breakdown of law and order, and to the control traffic.
A trader said, “The truck overran some traders and passerby in the market. Some people died while many others were injured.
However, the number of casualties are yet to be known.
When our correspondent called the Control Room of the state Fire Service, the official who spoke with our correspondent, said, “We were reached at exactly 9:01am on Sunday and our men moved swiftly to the point of the incident.
“Our boss visited the scene of the incident. Men of the Oyo State Transport Management Agency are there to lift the truck but their equipment could not do it so arrangements are on to address the situation while our men are on ground to avert outbreak of fire.”
The Sector Commander of the Federal Road Service Commission in the state, Mrs Chukwurah Uche, said, “Our officers are there but we have not been able to confirm the actual number of casualties. Before they could get there, those at the scene had taken the casualties to nearby hospitals.
“As a result of that, we cannot tell the actual number of those who lost their lives immediately as I speak. However, I directed our men to go round the hospitals in the area so that we can confirm the actual figure.”
