In a harrowing incident, a Toyota Previa bus laden with 100 containers, each holding 25 litres of petrol, burst into flames in Ilorin, the capital city of Kwara State.
The calamity unfolded around 7:27 am on Friday, at Guniyan junction, Isale Banni, Alore area, within the precincts of Ilorin West Local Government Area.
Authorities confirmed the catastrophic event, revealing that the raging inferno consumed both the vehicle and its volatile cargo.
Hassan Adekunle, the Kwara State Fire Service spokesperson, elucidated that the bus was en route to Banni Oko in Asa Local Government Area when disaster struck.
Initial investigations pointed towards spillage within the vehicle exacerbated by soaring temperatures, ultimately triggering the conflagration.
Adekunle underscored the clandestine nature of the operation, highlighting suspicions of illicit activities surrounding the transportation of the fuel.
“Upon receiving the distress call, our fire brigade promptly mobilized to the scene, endeavouring to contain the rapidly escalating blaze,” Adekunle stated.
“Preliminary findings suggest that the bus was covertly ferrying the 100 fuel containers for unauthorized purposes.”
Authorities actively pursue leads to identify the specific filling station implicated in the illicit petrol distribution for nefarious ends.
The incident is a stark reminder of the perils associated with clandestine fuel transportation and the imperative of stringent regulatory oversight to curb such illicit practices.
