IBADAN, Oyo State, October 18, 2026 – Five people have been killed in a fatal road accident involving a fully loaded 45,000-litre diesel tanker and several vehicles along the Iwo Road-Ojoo Expressway in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.
The accident occurred at about 10 a.m. on Saturday, October 17, at Aduloju Bus Stop, opposite Dominion City, leaving several vehicles badly damaged and the victims trapped in the wreckage.
The victims comprised two men, including the driver of a commercial Nissan Micra car, and three women who were passengers in the vehicle. They reportedly died after the tanker’s container fell onto the car during the collision.
The General Manager of the Oyo State Road Transport Management Authority, Adeoye Ayoade, confirmed the incident and attributed the circumstances leading to the crash partly to a prolonged traffic build-up caused by an earlier breakdown involving a trailer carrying motor spare parts.
According to Ayoade, the trailer broke down around the Arilogu area at approximately 5 a.m., several hours before the fatal accident. The breakdown reportedly caused a long queue of vehicles along the expressway while arrangements were being made to transfer the trailer’s load to another vehicle.
He explained that the diesel tanker subsequently suffered brake failure and fell onto one of the commercial vehicles. About six vehicles, including private cars and commercial Micra taxis, were reportedly involved in the crash.
The impact severely damaged the affected vehicles, leaving the occupants of the crushed Micra trapped beneath the tanker’s container.
The Oyo State Police Command also confirmed the accident. The command’s spokesperson, Olayinka 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 with rescue operations immediately after the incident was reported.
Personnel of the Nigeria Police Force, the Federal Road Safety Corps and OYRTMA were deployed to the scene to coordinate emergency response efforts, manage traffic and facilitate the removal of the wreckage.
The victims’ remains were subsequently taken to the Adeoyo Hospital Mortuary, while the damaged vehicles were towed to a police station, according to the road transport authority.
The crash caused significant traffic congestion along the busy Iwo Road-Ojoo corridor, a major route used by motorists travelling through Ibadan. Traffic management officials worked to clear the obstruction and restore normal movement.
The incident has renewed concerns about the dangers posed by heavy-duty vehicles operating on busy roads, particularly when mechanical failures occur amid severe traffic congestion.
The suspected brake failure and the circumstances surrounding the tanker driver’s loss of control are expected to form part of the relevant authorities’ assessment of the crash.
Motorists have continued to face risks associated with vehicle defects, poorly managed road obstructions and congestion, highlighting the importance of regular vehicle maintenance, effective traffic management and prompt clearance of broken-down vehicles from major highways.
