A tanker filled with petrol had on Saturday, October 11, 2014, gone up in flames around Molete Market, Ibadan, the Oyo State capital leaving no fewer than 11 people dead. Most of the survivors sustained different degrees of fire injuries in the incident which razed about 45 shops in the market and damaged some vehicles.
A staff of a media house, Nigerian Tribune, Mr. Samson Oyewole, and an eight year-old girl were involved in the mishap although they survived.
Some people who were present during the incident speculated that the death records might be beyond what was reported. This incident is also said to be the second major fire incident in the city within two months after Alesinloye Market was gutted on August 16, 2014.
Punch reports stated that lots of police operatives together with other security officials were sighted on the morning of Sunday, October 12, 2014, at the scene of the event trying to put things in order while the officials of the Oyo State Fire Service Department were trying to remove the fallen tanker and the affected vehicles from the scene.
Other eye witnesses disclosed the fire reportedly started when a truck fully loaded with fuel fell at the Molete roundabout, caught fire immediately and eventually damaged about 13 vehicles, three houses, seven commercial motorcycles, three commercial tricycles and goods said to have worth running into millions of Naira. Most of the dead victims were said to be traders along the Molete Marked road who sold at the roadside against official orders.
Meanwhile, Public Relations Officer of University College Hospital, Ibadan, Ayodeji Bobade, disclosed that, “Eleven people were brought here with a girl, all suffering from severe burns. One of them died over night while others are receiving treatment at the burns unit of the hospital.”
Further speaking about the incident, the “Iyaloja” of Molete Market, Alhaja Iswat Oyinlola, said, “I was already at home around 10pm when I got the message that a petrol tanker fell at Molete roundabout and spilled its content, causing a huge fire. By the time I got to the market, the fire had spread. If not for the river behind the market, the fuel would have flooded the whole neighbourhood and caused more death because it happened when many people were retiring to their beds.
“I discovered that 13 vehicles, seven commercial motorcycles and three commercial tricycles were burnt, 10 people were killed and 45 shops were affected. We don’t know the actual number of those who died in the inferno but from the list I have with me, 10 people were confirmed dead. Others were taken to the hospital.”
Furthermore, Oyinlola disclosed that the state governor, Mr Abiola Ajimobi was at the scene in the wee hours where he commiserated with the victims of the incident.
“Commercial bus drivers who have turned the roundabout to their park, thereby causing huge traffic around the area, caused the accident. From what I learnt, the truck was unable to negotiate the bend smoothly, and because it had a full load of fuel in its tanker, it lost control and fell.
“We appeal to the police to do their work without sentiment. They should ensure that the drivers don’t pick up their passengers by the roundabout. This will ease the traffic around the area and avert disaster.”
The survivors are currently counting their losses as Chigozie Eze, who owns a pharmacy shop disclosed that he lost everything to the mishap.
He said, “The driver was trying to steer the vehicle away from a pothole at the roundabout and at the same time making attempts not to collide with the commercial buses at the area when it fell. The content spilled and exploded. My brother and another person escaped through the back door but we lost everything.
“I had more than N400,000 in the shop but it was burnt to ashes. A customer who just bought drugs was caught in the fire, he died immediately. I don’t know where to start again.”
Another survivor who acclaimed to have house accessories and a building materials shop in the market, Mr. Ahmed Adeoye, said, “The fire gutted everything I had in my shop including money. I cannot quantify the amount I lost accurately but it is over N2million…”
