The Oyo State Fire Service has confirmed that six people died in a multiple-vehicle crash involving tankers, articulated trucks, and cars at the Ibadan toll gate section of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway on Friday night.
The collision, which resulted in a fire outbreak, also left several commuters stranded for hours on Saturday as heavy traffic built up along the busy highway.
In a statement, Moroof Akinwande, Chairman of the Oyo State Fire Service, said eight other victims were rescued from the scene and handed over to officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) for medical treatment.
Akinwande explained that the agency received a distress call at about 9:29pm from police officer Sola Rotimi, after which firefighters were immediately deployed to the location.
He said emergency responders arrived to find six vehicles involved, including gas tankers, articulated trucks, and two cars, with parts of the scene already on fire.
“The crew quickly swung into action, and the fire was restricted from causing further damage to other vehicles and nearby properties,” he said.
Preliminary findings, according to him, suggest that brake failure may have caused the crash.
He also urged motorists to drive carefully on highways and ensure their vehicles are fitted with functional fire extinguishers to help manage emergencies before they escalate.
Footage shared on social media showed hundreds of vehicles stuck in heavy gridlock as burnt tankers blocked part of the road. Burnt vehicles and debris were seen scattered across the expressway, while travellers expressed frustration over the long delays.
“We have been on the road since 7am. We are still here. We have spent more than necessary. Lagos-Ibadan Expressway needs urgent rescue,” one stranded passenger said.
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Comedian and pastor Bayegun Oluwatoyin, popularly known as Woli Arole, also reacted in a video online, warning travellers about the situation.
“If you are planning to come to Ibadan today, just stay home. People have been here for between three to four hours. I learnt there are cars burnt on the way since yesterday. It’s serious,” he said.
Gospel singer Dare Justified (Damilare Ogundoyin) also advised travellers to plan ahead and consider alternative routes, noting that movement along the affected section remained extremely slow.
“If you are travelling from Lagos to Ibadan or from Ibadan to Lagos today, please plan accordingly,” he wrote.
“There is currently a major traffic gridlock on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway following a collision involving four tankers and two vehicles.
“The incident has caused a complete blockage of traffic in both directions.
“Many commuters have reportedly been stranded in traffic since as early as 7:00 a.m., and movement along the affected stretch remains extremely slow.”