At least five people have died after a diesel tanker reportedly suffered brake failure and crushed a commercial car along the Iwo Road-Ojoo Expressway in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

The crash occurred around 10am on Saturday at Aduloju Bus Stop, opposite Dominion City, involving a fully loaded diesel tanker and several other vehicles.

The victims were two men, including the driver, and three women who were travelling in a commercial Nissan Micra car.

Traffic congestion preceded the crash

The General Manager of the Oyo State Road Traffic Management Authority, Adeoye Ayoade, said the accident followed a traffic build-up caused by a broken-down trailer carrying motor spare parts.

According to Ayoade, the trailer broke down around 5am in the Arilogu area. The incident reportedly caused a long queue of vehicles while arrangements were being made to transfer its cargo.

He said the diesel tanker subsequently lost its brakes and fell, with its tank rolling onto one of the commercial cars.

The impact trapped the occupants inside the vehicle, killing all five people, according to the traffic management official.

Police, FRSC and traffic officials respond

The Oyo State Police Command confirmed the accident through its spokesperson, Olayinka Ayanlade.

Ayanlade said Commissioner of Police Abimbola Ayodeji Olugbenga directed the Divisional Police Officer in Kajorepo and nearby patrol teams to secure the scene and assist in rescue operations.

Personnel of the Oyo State Road Traffic Management Authority, the Federal Road Safety Corps and the police were deployed to manage the scene and restore traffic.

The bodies of the victims were taken to the Adeoyo Hospital Mortuary, while the damaged vehicles were moved to a police station, Ayoade said.

Heavy traffic as responders clear wreckage

The crash caused severe traffic congestion along the busy expressway as emergency and traffic officials worked to remove the wreckage.

The tanker was eventually lifted from the crushed commercial car, allowing responders to recover the victims.

Ayoade later confirmed that the affected vehicles had been removed from the road and traffic had been restored.

Questions over tanker safety

The fatal crash has again drawn attention to the dangers posed by heavy-duty vehicles on Nigerian roads, particularly when mechanical failures occur amid heavy traffic.

Brake failure in a fully loaded tanker can have devastating consequences because of the vehicle’s weight and the difficulty of stopping it quickly.

The circumstances reported by the traffic authority also highlight how a breakdown on a busy road can contribute to dangerous congestion.

The available report did not establish whether the tanker had undergone a recent mechanical inspection or whether any investigation had been concluded into its condition before the crash.