Nine killed, 54 vehicles burnt as tanker explodes in Lagos, govt commiserates with victims’ families

It was like a horror movie.
A tanker ascending along the popular Otedola Bridge, Berger, Lagos inward Ojodu/Berger area of the state around 5:30 p.m. on Thursday.

Coming from the Alausa Secretariat end of the road, the driver was on top speed. Suddenly, he saw a logjam on the road. The driver applied the brake. It failed.
The tanker crashed into many vehicles and exploded.
At the end of the ‘movie-like horror’, nine people in various vehicles were burnt beyond recognition.
The casualties would have been more if not for the alarm raised by some passengers who saw the articulated vehicle laden with petrol surging towards them.

In all, 54 vehicles – the tanker, five buses, two trucks, a tricycle and 45 cars – were razed.
Four people were injured.
They were immediately rushed to nearby hospitals by rescue teams involving the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Nigeria Police Force (NPF), Rapid Response Squad (RRS), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Lagos State Fire Service and Lagos State Transport Management Agency (LASTMA).
Meanwhile, the Lagos State Government has commiserated with families of victims who lost their lives and property in the tanker explosion.
The government, in a statement by the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Kehinde Bamigbetan, described the incident as a sad development, saying that it was most unfortunate and regrettable.  
“On behalf of the Lagos State Government, we extend our deepest commiseration to the families of persons who lost their lives as well as properties to the incident. Our thoughts and prayers are with them in this time of pain and grief.

“As a government, we would not relent in putting measures in place to ensure safety of lives and property of all residents,” Bamigbetan said.
The commissioner said that Governor Akinwunmi Ambode has directed all relevant agencies to move into the area to normalise the apprehension that had taken over the area and to also ensure that those in need are adequately taken care of.  
The governor assured that clearing of the highway of damaged vehicles to establish normal traffic flow would continue throughout the night until the objective is achieved.
He called for the co-operation of all citizens with the officials of the agencies to restore the situation to normalcy.

He also urged motorists to continue to adhere to the safety standard and the State Traffic Laws so as to prevent a re-occurrence of such incidents.