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Tragic Outcome: Ogun Tanker Fire Claims Victim, Nursing Mother Hospitalized

Published by Tope Fakinlede on October 23rd, 2024.

Tragic Outcome: Ogun Tanker Fire Claims Victim, Nursing Mother Hospitalized

Mercy Emmanuel, a mother of four, has tragically succumbed to severe burns sustained in a tanker fire that occurred last Wednesday on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway. Additionally, a nursing mother who tried to save her children during the incident has been hospitalized due to serious injuries.

Reports indicate that the fire erupted after a petrol-laden tanker overturned around midnight near a commercial bank in the Ibafo area. Eyewitnesses believe the driver may have fallen asleep at the wheel, leading to the tanker losing control, rolling over, and ultimately exploding.

The ensuing petrol spill flowed through a drainage system, affecting a nearby community approximately a kilometer from the expressway. The aftermath was devastating, with visible damage to homes, including shattered windows, damaged roofs, and cracked walls.

In an interview, Ismail Emmanuel, the deceased’s husband, shared that smoke from the blaze hindered his wife’s escape. In her frantic attempt to flee, she fell into the fiery drainage without realizing the danger. Ismail recounted the harrowing experience, explaining that despite seeking urgent medical care, he was unable to afford the N6 million deposit requested at the hospital.

“I was at work when my son called about the fire. He couldn’t find my wife at home and later informed me they were on the way to the hospital. We took her to a hospital in Sagamu, but after several referrals, I was told I needed to pay N6 million at Igbobi Hospital. We then moved her to Gbagada General Hospital, where she sadly passed away,” he said.

Ismail has since placed his wife’s body in a private morgue in Ibafo and is appealing for government assistance for his family.

Another local resident, Bidemi, reported that a woman, known as Iya Ada, was hospitalized after being burned while trying to rescue her children. The fire not only caused physical injuries but also destroyed much of her family’s belongings.

Previously, victims of the fire had reached out to Governor Dapo Abiodun, requesting support after losing vehicles that served as their main source of income. The governor has since expressed his condolences and urged tanker drivers to exercise greater caution on the roads.