The harrowing event unfolded late on Friday night, plunging countless travelers into chaos and desperation as they found themselves stranded amidst the chaos. The calamity was triggered by a fuel tanker erupting into flames, setting ablaze other tankers and vehicles ensnared in a gridlocked traffic jam.

Conflicting estimates emerged regarding the extent of the devastation, with some accounts suggesting that over 300 vehicles were consumed by the inferno, while others tallied more than 100.

Tragically, the precise toll of casualties remains uncertain, though reports indicate that numerous individuals, trapped in their vehicles, suffered horrific fates as they were engulfed by the raging flames.

Sources pointed fingers at reckless driving practices and the construction company tasked with the Eleme road reconstruction as contributing factors to the catastrophe.

The inferno raged for hours, casting a pall of smoke and terror over the area, until it was eventually quelled by a concerted effort from multiple fire service teams, bolstered by assistance from the Indoroma Petrochemical company.

Eyewitnesses recounted the terrifying moments when the explosions ripped through the night, accompanied by desperate cries for help. One resident described hearing deafening blasts, followed by the sight of thick smoke billowing into the sky from a distance.

Another eyewitness, Segun Owolabi, shared a grim account of the aftermath, revealing the tragic sight of charred bodies and a vast expanse of vehicles reduced to smoldering wrecks. Amidst the devastation, he lamented the likelihood of additional casualties and the profound tragedy that had befallen the community.