Six persons have lost their lives in a multiple-vehicle crash involving tankers, articulated trucks and passenger cars at the Ibadan Toll Gate axis of the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway, the Oyo State Fire Service has confirmed.

The fatal accident, which occurred on Friday night, triggered a fire outbreak that led to severe traffic congestion, leaving commuters stranded for several hours into Saturday along the busy highway corridor.

Chairman of the Oyo State Fire Service, Mr Moroof Akinwande, confirmed the incident in a statement on Saturday, noting that eight other victims were rescued from the wreckage and handed over to officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, for medical attention.

According to him, the agency received a distress call at about 9:29 p.m. from a police officer, Sola Rotimi, prompting the immediate deployment of fire service personnel to the scene.

Akinwande said responders met about six vehicles involved in the crash, including gas tankers, heavy-duty trucks and two cars, with parts of the scene already engulfed in flames upon arrival.

“The crew quickly swung into action, and the fire was restricted from causing further damage to other vehicles and nearby properties,” he said.

He further disclosed that preliminary investigations suggested brake failure as a possible cause of the accident.

The Fire Service boss urged motorists to exercise caution while using highways and ensure that their vehicles are equipped with functional fire extinguishers to help contain emergencies before they escalate.

Footage shared on social media showed a massive traffic build-up as burnt tankers obstructed a section of the expressway, with charred remains of vehicles and debris scattered across the road. The situation caused significant frustration among stranded travellers.

Popular comedian Bayegun Oluwatoyin, known as Woli Arole, was among those caught in the gridlock. In a video shared on Facebook on Saturday, he lamented the prolonged delay, stating that motorists had been stuck for about three to four hours.

He suggested that an earlier vehicle fire may have contributed to worsening the traffic situation and called on road safety authorities to intervene urgently.

The video showed a long stretch of stationary vehicles, including trucks and cars, extending along the expressway.

“People have been here for three to four hours. If you are planning to come to Ibadan today, just stay back. There was a vehicle fire on the road yesterday or so. It’s serious. We are close to Guru Maharaj Ji,” he said.

A Mobile Court in Delta State has convicted twenty-three persons for traffic offences and ordered them to pay a fine commensurate with their respective offences, just as it discharged and acquitted three others.

The Delta State Police Command disclosed this in a statement signed by the Police Public Relations Officer, Bright Edafe.

The Police Image maker said conviction follows the statewide enforcement of traffic regulations by the Delta State Police Command.

He said,”Twenty-six(26 vehicles were arrested for various traffic-related offences and subsequently charged before the Mobile Court provided by the Delta State Government for immediate adjudication.”

According to SP Edafe, “The enforcement exercise, which is being conducted in line with the directive of the Inspector-General of Police and the commitment of the Command to promoting road safety, public order, and compliance with extant laws, is aimed at addressing traffic violations that endanger lives and compromise the orderly use of the roads.

“At the conclusion of the court proceedings, twenty-three (23) offenders were convicted and ordered to pay fines commensurate with their respective offences, while three (3) others were discharged and acquitted.

He explained that, “The outcome reflects the Command’s determination to ensure strict compliance with traffic regulations through lawful and transparent enforcement measures.”

The Commissioner of Police, Delta State Command, CP Yemi Oyeniyi, reiterated the command’s resolve to sustain the exercise across the State and warned that violators of traffic laws would continue to face appropriate legal sanctions.

He urged motorists to ensure that their vehicles are properly registered and documented and to comply with all traffic regulations at all times.

The Zamfara State Police Command has recovered 329 rustled cattle following a fierce gun battle with armed bandits in Gummi Local Government Area of the state.

The development was contained in a post shared on X on Saturday by security analyst Zagazola Makama.

According to the post, the operation was carried out by operatives of the Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU) in collaboration with military personnel.

The joint security team was said to have acted on credible intelligence about the movement of armed bandits in Gambanda Forest on June 20 at about 2:30 am.

“The criminals were forced to abandon the rustled livestock due to superior firepower and coordinated response from the security operatives,” the source said.

During the operation, the team successfully recovered 329 cattle and 175 sheep earlier rustled by the bandits.

“One AK-47 rifle and 15 rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition were also recovered at the scene,” Makama added.