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Three buildings were razed down in Ajebandele village, Osun State, on Sunday, as a tanker laden with petrol exploded in the community.
According to reports, the tank compartment suddenly detached from the vehicle and exploded on the Ife-Ondo Road.
It was gathered that the driver of the truck ran away with the truck’s head to escape being attacked by the villagers.
A villager, Olatunji Adio, told The Punch that the incident happened around 4.30am, adding that the resultant fire raged for about five hours before firefighters extinguished it.
He said three buildings and properties worth millions of naira were lost to the fire.
Adio stated that beside the several sacks of dried cocoa belonging to the villagers, which were destroyed, cash and other valuables were also lost to the inferno.
He explained that many travellers plying the road early in the morning were stranded as half of the road was made impassable for hours because of the raging fire.
However, the Administrative Officer of the Osun State Fire Service, Fatai Aremu, said no live was lost to the incident.
He said: “The fire started around 4.30am. A truck laden with 33,000 litres of petroleum product lost its compartment.
“The driver of the truck obviously ran away with the vehicle’s head to escape possible attack by the villagers. Immediately we received the distress call, we deployed our men in the Ife unit.
“The fire was eventually extinguished. The villagers lost several bags of dried cocoa. They also lost cash and other valuables, but no life was lost.”