The Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency (TRACE) has confirmed the death of 18 passengers in a fatal accident that occurred in the Ogbere area of Ijebu East Local Government along the Ijebu-Ode/Ore Expressway.

The incident involved a Toyota Hiace bus with registration number XA 690 AKU, in which all passengers were burned beyond recognition, while one individual sustained injuries. TRACE spokesperson, Babatunde Akinbiyi, confirmed the incident in a statement issued in Abeokuta, the state capital.

Akinbiyi revealed that the accident was caused by a fire ignited from petroleum motor spirit (PMS) stored in a jerrycan inside the bus. According to an eyewitness account, supported by the driver’s statement, the fuel container fell over when the vehicle encountered a bad section of the road. The spilled fuel made contact with the vehicle’s exhaust pipe, causing it to catch fire while in transit.

The injured driver, partially burned, was rescued and taken to Rona Hospital in Ijebu Ode, while the bodies of the deceased were deposited at the State Hospital Mortuary in Ijebu Ode.

Akinbiyi urged drivers to avoid storing fuel in jerrycans to prevent such tragedies and extended condolences to the families of the victims.