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PHOTOS: Panic as fire wreaks havoc in Ogun community

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An early Wednesday morning fire incident along the Ibafo axis of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, triggered by a petrol tanker fire, has destroyed vehicles worth millions of naira, as well as houses and animals, leaving residents in a state of panic.

Several individuals also sustained varying degrees of injuries.

Correspondent who visited the scene, gathered that the fire began when the tanker, loaded with petrol, overturned in front of a commercial bank located along the Ibafo section of the expressway.

Eyewitnesses disclosed that the driver of the tanker was suspected to have fallen asleep at the wheel, causing him to lose control, which led to the tanker’s fall and eventual explosion.

Our correspondent observed that the petrol spill passed through a drainage system that led to a community about one kilometre from the expressway.

The impact of the fire was evident, with several buildings suffering shattered windows, damaged roofs, and cracked walls.

Speaking with our correspondent, an eyewitness identified as Wasiu said the tanker driver’s reckless driving was to blame for the incident.

He explained, “What I saw was that the tanker was swaying before it fell and spilt its contents into the drainage. It didn’t catch fire immediately, as some hoodlums had started scooping the fuel.

“However, after a few minutes, fire struck from the other side of the expressway, and it escalated. Four tipper trucks parked on the premises of Osadol Fuel Station were destroyed. I also learned that the fire extended into the community close to the expressway.”

A resident of the affected community, Tunde Adewumi, noted that the fire caused panic as most people were asleep when it spread into the area.

He said, “It was a serious incident, but thank God the drainage had been constructed; otherwise, the damage would have been much worse. The fire injured about three people and damaged buildings. Those affected were mostly people living close to where the drainage construction ends.”

Confirming the incident in a telephone conversation with our correspondent, the spokesperson for the Ogun State Police Command, Omolola Odutola, said the tanker driver sustained injuries and was taken to the hospital.

“The incident involved a Fiat truck, but the driver’s name and address are currently unknown. The accident occurred when the driver lost control of the steering and collided with the roadside curb. The truck, believed to be carrying petrol, fell over and caught fire. The fire spread to the truck and eventually engulfed it.

“Additionally, the fire reached the Osadol Petrol Station, damaging two trucks parked outside. At the time of the incident, the fire service was contacted, but community members and police officers managed to bring the fire under control while awaiting their arrival. The truck driver has been taken to Real Divine Touch Hospital in Ibafo for medical treatment,” Odutola stated.

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Man Found Dead in Ogun Hotel

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32 year old Lanre Ogungbe has been found dead in a hotel at Soyoye axis of Abeokuta, the Ogun state capital.
He was found lying helpless with empty bottles of alcohol and insecticide in a room, in the hotel on Thursday.
The receptionists at the hotel named Authentic hotel said after noticing that the deceased, who booked for a short time, failed to check out, raised concern.
They later found him lying helplessly on the bed, with empty bottles of alcohol and insecticide besides him.
Spokesperson of the state police command, Omolola Odutola said the manager of the hotel reported the incident to the Lafenwa police station, which deployed detectives to the hotel.
She said the detectives did not find any form of violence on the body, which had been deposited at the morgue of the state hospital, Ijaye, Abeokuta, for post mortem examination.
Odutola also said a thorough investigation of the incident was underway.

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Why I prefer traditional worship to Christianity, Islam — Wole Soyinka

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Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, has disclosed why he prefers traditional Orisa worshipping to Christianity and Islam.

He said the deepness of faith in Islam and Christianity doesn’t match that of Orisa worshipping for him, adding that Orisa fascinated him a lot more.

According to him, Orisa worshipping is one of the African religions that eschews violence and is more creative.

“I was fortunate to be born in two worlds – the Christian world and traditional Orisa worshippers. My grandfather, until he – poor man – also got converted – he was an Orisa person and a chief, and his (grandfather’s) side (of Orisa) fascinated me a lot more,” the playwright told CNN’s Larry Madowo, during an interview.

He added, “For me, it (Orisa worshipping) was more artistic, creative, and also more mysterious. I don’t find much of the mysterious in Christianity and even less in Islam and that is for a simple reason that I didn’t grow up in a Muslim environment.

“Orisa is open, and very ecumenical and that is why these foreign religions were able to penetrate it and even distort the truth. Because of the generosity of this spirit (Orisa), it is not violent. It is one of those African religions which eschew violence.

“I don’t believe in the Islamic or Christian God and for the adherents of these religions if that makes me an atheist, so I say, I am an atheist. I insisted that all human beings have a certain spiritual core in their being, I believe myself to be a more spirit-sensitive person.”

The literary icon also revealed that he said he doesn’t like to watch anything adapted from his life or works.

“Let me put it this way, turning anything in my life into what other people can watch pains me. It makes me extremely uncomfortable. It’s wrong to say it’s terrific, let me just say I’m detached from it.

“It takes me a while to bring myself to watch me.”

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Abiodun Felicitates With JAMB Registrar, Oloyede at 70

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Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun state has congratulated the registrar of the Joint Admission Matriculation Board (JAMB), Professor Ishaq Oloyede, on his seventieth birthday.
He described him as a remarkable scholar and distinguished administrator, who had redefined public administration space in Nigeria.
The governor, in a statement by his chief press secretary, Lekan Adeniran commended Professor Oloyede for his immense contribution to the transformation of jamb through transparency and professionalism.
Abiodun also celebrated Oloyede for his exemplary blend of scholarship and religious values.
According to the governor, the dedication of Oloyede also brought integrity and efficiency to jamb.

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