Gas tanker crushes five to death in Ibadan market

Five persons were on Sunday crushed to death with several others injured when a driver of a fully loaded gas tanker lost control and swerved the articulated vehicle into the Bode Market in Molete, Ibadan, Oyo State.

The tanker was said to be coming from Idi-Arere area of Ibadan.

Many vehicles were also said to have been crushed by the tanker.

The market is located a few kilometres from the palace of the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Saliu Adetunji.

Already, the Oyo Police Command has confirmed the death of the five persons.

The police said the corpses had been deposited at a morgue, adding efforts were being intensified to evacuate the affected vehicles and reveal the identities of the deceased.

A statement by Oyo police spokesperson Adewale Osifeso explained the police with the fire service personnel had successfully managed the situation to prevent fire outbreaks.

Media asistant to the Olubadan,

Yanju Adegboyega, said that there was a directive for the market to be closed for seven days.

He said, “During the last market festival in Ibadan, it was advised that the same market should be closed for seven days. Today is the seventh day, which means that the market should be opened tomorrow.

“However, some of the traders have been sneaking into the market to sell despite the seven-day closure. The information we have is that the owner of the particular shop that the vehicle ran into has been opening her shop for the past five days. She and her customer were killed in the accident.”

He said apart from those killed and injured in the accident, many vehicles were badly damaged.