Five Die In Osun Gas Tanker, Bus Accident

At least five individuals reportedly died in a recent tragic incident involving a gas tanker and a bus that took place in Ile-Ife, Osun State.

The Osun State Fire Service confirmed the incident in a statement issued on Friday.

The development comes shortly after it was reported that numerous passengers were caught up in the crash, which took place on the Ife/Ibadan Expressway on Thursday.

The spokesperson for the Osun Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Kehinde Adeleke, who was among the first responders to the scene, mentioned that the bus was carrying approximately 17 people at the time of the accident.

However, during an update on the accident on Friday, Ibrahim Adekunle, the Osun State Fire Service spokesperson, revealed that five individuals, including two males, two females, and a toddler, were rescued from the wreckage but did not survive.

He further stated that the bodies of the victims were taken to the morgue at the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital in Ile-Ife.

The statement read, “On Thursday, September 12, 2024 as a gas tanker overran a commercial bus popularly known as ‘Sabo-Lagere’ which conveyed an unspecified number of passengers and crushed them to death. They both swerved off the road into a ditch along Ibadan Express Road, Ajebandele, Ile-Ife.

“The incident was reported to our Ile-Ife Zonal Command at around 12 noon and they mobilised to the scene and joined the headquarters from Abere to give adequate backup because of the nature of materials involved in the crash (LPG).

“After frantic efforts by the men of the State Fire Service in conjunction with FRSC Ile-Ife Zonal Command led by SRC Kenny Olorundare and some local residents, five passengers were recovered from the wreckage which comprises two men and women each and a toddler. They are subsequently conveyed to the OAU Teaching Hospital morgue.”

The Director of Osun State Fire Service, Ismail Olaniyi, described the incident as unfortunate and avoidable.

He sympathised with the families of the deceased and the Ile-Ife community.