Fuel Tanker Explosion And Police Tragedy In Ondo: What Happened

A fuel-laden tanker exploded on Saturday evening in Ore, the headquarters of Odigbo Local Government Area in Ondo State, causing widespread panic. The incident occurred around 6:30 pm in the Soka area, following the tanker’s veering off the road into a ditch.

Eyewitnesses reported that the tanker immediately ignited, engulfing the area in thick smoke that significantly reduced visibility and led to heavy traffic congestion.

Samuel Ibitoye, the Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) in Ondo State, confirmed the incident during a phone interview with Channels Television. Fortunately, no fatalities were reported.

In a related tragic event in the same community, three police officers and a suspect lost their lives in an auto crash on Thursday. The crash occurred when a trailer, reportedly speeding, crossed the road’s median and collided with a police van carrying the officers and the suspect.

According to eyewitness accounts, the officers from the Monitoring Unit of the Ondo State Police Command had traveled from Akure to Ore to make an arrest. Sadly, four officers were involved, three of whom died on the spot. One officer survived with injuries and was rushed to a hospital for treatment.

The deceased individuals’ remains were deposited at a mortuary in Ore. The spokesperson for the Ondo State Police Command, Funmilayo Odunlami-Omisanya, confirmed the accident, describing it as a deeply unfortunate incident. She extended condolences to the victims’ families and announced that an investigation has been launched to determine the cause of the crash.