19th August, 2014
Abiodun Onafuye/Abeokuta
Three petrol smugglers were roasted alive Tuesday at Temitope axis of Idiroko border town of Ogun State, western Nigeria, following an accident involving two vehicles.
The incident happened when two vehicles being used to smuggle petroleum products collided before catching fire. The smugglers engaged in illegal transportation of petroleum products between the Idiroko Nigerian border and the neighbouring Republic of Benin.
The victims, one of whom was simply identified as Fatai, his younger brother and a woman believed to be a customer were all burnt alive following the collision.
Our correspondent reliably gathered that the trio were returning from one of their petroleum black market trips to a smuggling base between Nigeria and the Republic of Benin when their Nissan Sunny car marked (LAGOS) AKD 194 BS collided with an unmarked Ford bus loaded with fuel and the vehicles caught fire.
It was further gathered that the unmarked Ford bus, laden with 200 units of 50-litres jerrycans of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) was heading to the “beebe” Petroleum black market for onward movement to Republic of Benin when the accident occurred.
Eyewitnesses said it was while trying to avoid being arrested by security operatives, particularly the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) patrol team, that the Ford bus collided with the Nissan Sunny car right in front of FARIWARD Petroleum filling station located at Temitope area around 2:00 a.m. Tuesday.
There was weeping among residents of Idiroko and other sympathisers who watched helplessly as Fatai’s family members from Idologun village, a satellite town in Idiroko thronged the scene of the accident to pack the remains of their children.
Police officers from Idiroko Divisional Headquarters arrived the scene later this morning and towed away the carcass of the two burnt vehicles to their station.