Two persons on Wednesday sustained injuries in a fire that erupted around 10 a.m. at Nine Energies Fuel Station, Asero, Abeokuta, Ogun State capital.
An eyewitness who did not want his name in print told our correspondent the fire broke out when a tanker was offloading diesel.
Although the source said the driver of the tanker and his assistant were feared dead, authorities said they only sustained injuries.
Our correspondent who visited the station saw the burnt tanker, officials of the Ogun State Fire Service, some policemen and men of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps.
The source said, “The fire started around 10 a.m and we just saw the thick smoke coming from the filling station.
“We later got to know that the fire started when a tanker that brought diesel was transferring it into another tanker. It was the tanker that was receiving the diesel that went up in flames while the one that brought the diesel hurriedly left the place to avoid being caught up.
“The two occupants of the tanker that was receiving the fuel were however badly burnt; they were rushed to the hospital.”
The Director of the Ogun State Fire Service, Fatai Adefala, while confirming the incident, however, said those involved in the fire only sustained minor injuries and were rushed to the hospital.
“Only one tanker was involved and the fire started when the tanker was about to dispense the diesel into the underground tank. It was the pumping machine that ignited the fire and the two injured people only suffered minor injuries and were rushed to the state hospital,” he said.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Omolola Odutola, also confirmed the incident but said she could not confirm whether there were casualties or not.
