An unspecified number of persons have been reported dead following a tanker explosion that occurred around midnight along the Abeokuta–Sagamu Expressway.

According to PUNCH, the spokesperson for the Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency (TRACE), Babatunde Akinbiyi, confirmed that the incident happened at about 1 a.m. on Friday when a 33,000-litre petrol tanker overturned due to excessive speeding.

The tanker spilled its contents on the highway, triggering a massive fire that spread to nearby vehicles and electric poles.

Akinbiyi explained:“The effect of the unfortunate incident also extended to the burning of a truck and a tow vehicle along the roadside, as well as the destruction of a PHCN cable supplying electricity to Mowe and environs.”

Emergency responders including TRACE, the Ogun State Fire Service, Nestlé Fire Service, FRSC, and the Police were on ground to contain the fire and begin rescue operations.

Although casualty figures remain unconfirmed, authorities have diverted traffic to a single lane to allow ongoing emergency work at the scene.