Six persons have been confirmed dead in a multiple-vehicle accident involving tankers, articulated trucks and cars at the Ibadan toll gate section of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
The crash, which occurred on Friday night, triggered a fire outbreak and caused severe gridlock that left many commuters stranded for hours on Saturday.
The Oyo State Fire Service confirmed the incident in a statement by its chairman, Moroof Akinwande.
Akinwande said eight other persons were rescued from the wreckage and handed over to officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps for medical attention.
He said the fire service received a distress call at about 9:29pm from a police officer, Sola Rotimi, and immediately deployed firefighters to the scene.
According to him, emergency responders arrived to find six vehicles involved in the crash, including gas tankers, articulated trucks and two cars, with parts of the scene already in flames.
“The crew quickly swung into action, and the fire was restricted from causing further damage to other vehicles and nearby properties,” Akinwande said.
The fire service said preliminary investigation indicated that brake failure may have caused the accident.
Akinwande urged motorists to exercise caution on highways and ensure their vehicles are equipped with functional fire extinguishers to help manage emergencies before they escalate.
Videos circulating on social media showed hundreds of vehicles trapped in gridlock as burnt tankers blocked part of the expressway.
Charred vehicle parts and burnt tyres were also seen littering the road, while frustrated commuters lamented the long delay.
“We have been on the road since 7am. We are still here. We have spent more than necessary. Lagos-Ibadan Expressway needs urgent rescue,” one stranded passenger said.
Comedian and pastor, Bayegun Oluwatoyin, popularly known as Woli Arole, also warned travellers against using the route in a video shared online.
“If you are planning to come to Ibadan today, just stay home. People have been here for between three to four hours. I learnt there are cars burnt on the way since yesterday. It’s serious,” he said.
Gospel singer Damilare Ogundoyin, known as Dare Justified, also advised travellers moving between Lagos and Ibadan to plan carefully and consider alternative routes.
“If you are traveling from Lagos to Ibadan or from Ibadan to Lagos today, please plan accordingly,” he wrote.
“There is currently a major traffic gridlock on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway following a collision involving four tankers and two vehicles.
“The incident has caused a complete blockage of traffic in both directions.
“Many commuters have reportedly been stranded in traffic since as early as 7:00 a.m., and movement along the affected stretch remains extremely slow.”
