In a heartbreaking accident on the Ife/Ibadan Expressway in Osun state, five lives were lost after a gas tanker collided with a commercial bus on Thursday. The bus was carrying around 17 passengers when the crash happened.
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) confirmed that the crash led to several passengers being trapped inside the bus. Authorities rushed to the scene to provide rescue support.
On Friday, Ibrahim Adekunle, a spokesperson for the Osun State Fire Service, provided an update confirming that five people were found dead, including two men, two women, and a toddler. Their bodies were recovered from the wreckage and taken to the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital in Ile-Ife.
The accident occurred when the gas tanker lost control and struck the bus, sending both vehicles into a ditch by the roadside. The rescue operation was a joint effort by the Osun State Fire Service, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), and local residents.
Ismail Olaniyi, Director of the Osun State Fire Service, expressed his deep sorrow over the tragedy and extended his sympathies to the families affected. He emphasized that the accident was both tragic and preventable, and urged drivers to exercise caution on the road.