Explosion kills two in Benin

Two persons were killed when a petrol tanker exploded at the Ovia River near Benin, capital of Edo state, on Friday.

Adewale Ameen, Tollgate unit commander of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) in Edo, confirmed the accident to NAN on Saturday.

Ameen said the road crash involved two articulated vehicles, one conveying petrol, while the other was carrying rods.

“Both vehicles were coming from the same direction from the Lagos axis to Benin when the accident occurred before the Ovia River at about 3 pm. on Friday,” he said.

“The tanker laden with 33,000 litres of petroleum product rammed into the truck carrying steel rods while they were descending the slope and there was an immediate explosion with the driver and his assistant trapped.”

“FRSC officials immediately took control and started diverting motorists to the Ogbemudia Farms axis to control traffic and prevent more accident.”