Punch reports that the Ondo Sector Command of Federal Road Safety Corps has disclosed that eight people lost their lives in a petrol tanker explosion that occurred on Benin-Ore-Sagamu expressway on Sunday. The FRSC causality figure contradicted the earlier report that 20 persons were burnt to death. The Sector Commander of Ondo CC.Ezekiel Son’Allah confirmed that the victims were scooping fuel from the fallen tanker when the fire broke out from the accident, which was caused by loss of concentration and speed limit violation. Eight people died but the driver and motor boy of the vehicle escaped unhurt. The dead bodies were taken to the Morgue of Ore General Hospital.

Some residents however reportedly claimed that over 20 people died including two pregnant women and three children while others sustained injuries. They claimed that not all the dead victims were scooping fuel, some victims were just passersby. Punch reports that a resident Tijani Diekola said that the tanker driver lost control of the vehicle and entered into a ditch around 4.30pm. Trouble started when some residents were scooping fuel spilling into the stream with buckets and kegs until the explosion occurred. He explained that it was unfortunate that a woman was cooking in her kitchen when the inflammable product on the water caught fire, burning the woman to death while the fire traveled back to the tanker. A pregnant woman who was crossing the stream with three other minors were caught in the river and burnt to death. Some who were close to the tanker were badly affected too.

Mrs. Bamidele Ademola-Olateju who is the Commissioner for Information in a statement described the incident as tragic and unfortunate. Similarly, Mr. Kalejaiye Alex the publicity Secretary of APC has described the incident as unfortunate; also, Mr. Olatunji Ifabiyi who is the lawmaker representing Odigbo 1 constituency described the incident as unfortunate in his condolence message.