From Taiye Joseph, Ilorin
A major disaster was averted on Thursday 13th August 2026, after the tank of a petroleum tanker carrying about 45,000 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), suddenly detached from its head at Oloru along the New Jebba Expressway in Kwara State.
The incident, which occurred at about 9:08am, sparked fears of a possible fire outbreak as the tanker was stranded in a densely populated area surrounded by buildings, shops and vehicles.
The tanker, with registration number OYO 45 AA, was reportedly transporting the petrol from Lagos to Abuja when the driver noticed an unusual sound while in transit.
He immediately pulled over to inspect the vehicle and, having found no obvious fault, attempted to continue the journey. However, the tank carrying the highly inflammable product suddenly detached from the tanker head, creating a potentially dangerous situation.
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Responding to the incident, firefighters deployed to the scene quickly began preventive operations, drenching the tanker and surrounding environment with water to guard against possible ignition.
The firefighters subsequently remained at the scene until the petrol was safely siphoned into another empty tanker, effectively eliminating the immediate danger.
The Chief Fire Officer of the Kwara State Fire Service, CFS Alabi Muhammed, commended the firefighters for their professionalism and vigilance, stressing that incidents involving petroleum products require immediate and coordinated intervention because of their highly inflammable nature.
Alabi urged tanker operators and drivers to carry out thorough inspections of their vehicles before embarking on long-distance journeys, while also advising them to promptly report unusual sounds, leaks, mechanical faults or other warning signs.
He further appealed to motorists and residents to keep a safe distance whenever petroleum tankers are involved in accidents or suffer mechanical failures, warning against activities capable of producing sparks or flames around spilled petroleum products.
The fire service said its personnel maintained a standby presence at the scene until the situation was brought under control.
