Fear has gripped residents of Agbor, Delta State, following a petrol tanker explosion along the Old Lagos–Asaba Road yesterday, barely three days after a deadly tanker explosion at Oluku Market near Benin City, Edo State.

In yet another accident, five people were feared dead and 10 others rescued on Saturday after a tanker conveying 45,000 litres of Automotive Gas Oil (diesel) reportedly suffered brake failure and crashed into four vehicles along the Ojoo-Iwo Road Expressway in Ibadan, Oyo State.

The Agbor incident reportedly followed a collision involving a petrol-laden tanker shortly before Okoh Junction, triggering a fire that engulfed nearby vehicles and destroyed properties worth millions of naira.

The extent of the damage and the number of casualties had yet to be officially confirmed as of the time of filing this report.

The cause of the collision and the circumstances that led to the explosion were also unclear.

The incident sparked panic among residents, traders, motorists and other road users, renewing concerns about the dangers posed by petroleum tanker accidents along busy highways and in communities.

The explosion came amid public outrage over the deadly incident at Oluku Market, along the Benin–Lagos Highway in Ovia North-East Local Council of Edo State, last Thursday, which reportedly claimed several lives and left others injured.

Against this backdrop, the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has called for the urgent rehabilitation of deteriorating roads across the country, warning that poor road conditions pose serious risks to motorists and petroleum tanker operators.

In a statement mourning the victims of the Oluku explosion, the union said the tragedy underscored the need for sustained measures to improve road safety, particularly in Edo State and other parts of the country where deteriorating roads create hazards for road users.

NUPENG expressed condolences to the Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, and residents of the affected community over the loss of lives, injuries and destruction of property.

The union also expressed concern over the recurrence of fatal incidents despite collaborative efforts with relevant safety agencies to educate the public on the dangers of scooping spilled fuel and other flammable substances at accident scenes.

It reaffirmed its commitment to working with the Edo State Government and other stakeholders to strengthen preventive measures and reduce the risk of similar tragedies.

Residents and road users in Agbor were similarly advised to keep away from the affected area and avoid approaching the burning tanker or any location where petroleum products might have spilled.

Meanwhile, the Oyo State accident occurred around the Ajao area of the expressway when the tanker, with registration number B14R316XB, reportedly lost control, somersaulted and rammed into a Nissan Micra with registration number AGG669XK before colliding with three other vehicles.

The fire service said its appliance returned safely to the station at 4.37 p.m. after the operation.

According to the statement, five bodies were recovered and handed over to police officers from the Kajorepo Divisional Police Headquarters, while 10 people were rescued.

Personnel of the fire service, the Oyo State Road Traffic Management Authority (OYRTMA) and the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) participated in the rescue and safety operations.

The OYRTMA team was led by its General Manager, Ayoade Adeoye, while the FRSC team was deployed from the Moniya Unit Command.

Reacting to the incident, the Special Adviser on Fire Reform and Chairman of the Oyo State Fire Services Agency, Adebayo Akinwande, urged motorists to maintain their vehicles regularly and obey traffic regulations to reduce road accidents.

He also emphasised the importance of installing fire extinguishers in public and commercial premises to enable occupants to contain fires at their early stages.