By Monsur Olowoopejo
One person yesterday died and scores of persons were left with different degrees of injuries when a tanker fully loaded with petrol product fell at about 5:30pm and burst into flames at Centre for Management Development, (CMD) junction, long Lagos-Ibadan expressway, Lagos.

The fire which expanded over 100 metres from the junction of the express road to the end of Adekunle Banjo street, Magodo area of Lagos roasted 20 rams and burnt over seven cars, including a gas tanker with registration no. XF 740-LSR.

According to the Seriki of CMD, ram market, Alh. Musa Ahmadu, said that the fuel tanker fell into the pit beside the express road when he lost control when he was trying to negotiate a bend at the CMD junction.

Ahmadu explains “I guess the tanker driver did not know that a portion of the road is in a bad condition. On seeing the spot, he tried to avoid the pothole but as he was doing this, the tanker fell into the pit. And when it fell into it, residents of Magodo came out of their houses to scoop fuel from the tanker and few minutes later, the tanker exploded. The explosion ignited the fire which razed the market.”

He identified the person who died as Ahmed, saying “he died while trying to rescue the rams tied to the pegs from been affected by the fired.”

The seriki added that they have complained over time about the bad portion of the road but nothing was done.

Ahmadu recalled that this is the fourth time tankers with petroleum products will be bursting in flames in the area.

Another eyewitness, the managing Director of Mayor Marbles and granite, Mr. Ibrahim Yusuf whose office was located at the end of Adekunle Banjo street,  said that he was busy working peacefully at his office when one of his workers ran to him informing him of an oncoming fire towards his office.