The Kwara State Fire Service on Saturday averted a major disaster after a petrol tanker conveying 45,000 litres of Premium Motor Spirit caught fire at a filling station along the Ilorin–Jebba Expressway.
The incident occurred at Olumo Filling Station, Oko-Olowo Junction, Ilorin, at about 2:31 pm.
In a statement issued on Sunday by the Head of the Media Unit of the Kwara State Fire Service, PFO Hassan Hakeem Adekunle, the service said its operatives responded swiftly after receiving a distress call.
According to the statement, the tanker had just arrived at the filling station from Lagos when the fire broke out and escalated rapidly before firefighters were contacted.
“On Saturday, January 17, 2026, at about 14:31 hours, the Kwara State Fire Service responded to a fire incident at Olumo Filling Station, Oko-Olowo Junction, Ilorin.
“The incident involved a petrol tanker loaded with 45,000 litres of Premium Motor Spirit. The tanker had just arrived at the filling station when fire erupted and spread rapidly before the Fire Service was alerted,” the statement partly read.
It added that firefighters arrived promptly and worked with professionalism to contain the inferno, preventing it from spreading to the filling station and nearby buildings.
“The petrol tanker was affected, but further escalation into the filling station infrastructure was successfully averted through the gallant efforts of the firefighters,” the statement added.
The Director of the Kwara State Fire Service, CFS Alabi Muhammed, commended the officers for their swift response and professionalism, describing their action as crucial in preventing what could have resulted in massive loss of lives and property.
He sympathised with the filling station owner and advised fuel transporters and station operators to strictly observe safety protocols during fuel transportation and discharge.
“I want to advise filling station operators to ensure routine inspection of tankers and maintain functional firefighting equipment at all times,” he said.
He further stressed that early reporting of fire incidents and strict adherence to safety standards remain critical in preventing fuel-related disasters.
The Fire Service said an investigation had commenced to determine the cause of the fire.
Fire outbreaks involving petrol tankers and filling stations have remained a recurring safety concern in parts of Kwara State, especially along major highways such as the Ilorin–Jebba corridor, which records heavy traffic of fuel tankers supplying northern Nigeria.
In recent years, the Kwara State Fire Service has intensified emergency response efforts, public sensitisation campaigns and safety inspections to curb fire-related incidents, particularly those linked to petroleum products.
The agency has repeatedly warned operators of filling stations and fuel transporters to comply strictly with safety regulations, noting that most fire outbreaks are often caused by negligence, faulty equipment or poor handling of inflammable products.
The latest incident comes amid renewed calls for stricter enforcement of safety standards at fuel depots and filling stations across the state to prevent avoidable disasters.
The official social media page of the Defence Headquarters (DHQ), 𝕏 to be precise, has been attacked by suspected hackers.
Naija News reports that the DHQ confirmed the development in a statement made public on Saturday, August 15, by the Director of Defence Information, Maj. General Samaila Uba.
He said the body has hence treated the incident as a cybersecurity matter, with technical measures activated to secure the account.
“The Defence Headquarters wishes to inform members of the public, the media and all stakeholders that it has detected an attempted unauthorised compromise of its official X (formerly Twitter) account.
“The incident is currently being treated as a cybersecurity matter, and appropriate technical measures have been activated to secure the account and prevent further unauthorised access,” the statement noted.
The DHQ urged members of the public to disregard any publication from the account at the moment while ensuring that efforts were ongoing to fully restore control of the official account.
“The Defence Headquarters assures the public that efforts are ongoing to fully restore control of the official account.
“Consequently, members of the public are advised to disregard any suspicious, unauthorised or misleading content that may be posted from the account during this period,” he said.
Uba stressed the DHQ’s committment to maintaining high standards of information security and ensuring that Nigerians continued to receive accurate, timely and credible information on the activities and operations of the Armed Forces of Nigeria.
“We appreciate the understanding and vigilance of the public and will provide further updates as necessary,” he said.
He further urged Nigerians to henceforth check its verified accounts on other platforms, including Facebook under the name “Defence Headquarters Nigeria,” Instagram at @defenceheadquarters and its WhatsApp Channel, Defence Headquarters Nigeria for reliable information.
At least seven workers were killed and 13 injured following a landslide that sent water and debris gushing into a tunnel under construction in north India, officials said Friday.
The incident occurred late Thursday in the Himalayan state of Uttarakhand, where workers were constructing a tunnel for a state-run hydropower project.
At least three workers are still missing, while 19 were rescued from the Tehri Hydro Development Corporation site, the State Disaster Management Authority said in a statement.
Videos shared by local authorities showed rescue workers equipped with head-mounted torches using makeshift rafts to reach the flooded section of the tunnel.
Uttarakhand has been battered by heavy monsoon rains in recent days.
Accidents on large construction sites are common in India, but ecologists say excessive development projects have led to more disasters in the fragile Himalayan areas.
Last month, 20 people working in a tunnel for another state-run hydroelectric project were killed in the remote northeastern state of Sikkim.
In 2023, 41 workers were rescued after being trapped for 17 days inside a tunnel that collapsed in Uttarakhand.
Hundreds of people have been killed in floods and landslides across the country since the start of the annual monsoon season in June.
Experts say climate change, coupled with poorly planned development, is increasing the frequency, severity, and impact of the disasters.
The Radio, Television, Theatre and Arts Workers Union has honoured the Director-General of the Department of State Services, Mr Oluwatosin Ajayi, with the ‘Golden Era Pillar of Critical and Strategic Intelligence for National Development Award’, as part of activities marking its 50th anniversary
RATTAWU conferred the award on Ajayi on Thursday at his office, when the National President of the group, Emeka Kalu, led members to a media/security-critical engagement and strategic partnership meeting for national development in Abuja.
Kalu praised the appointment of Ajayi in 2024 by President Bola Tinubu, describing it as putting “a round peg in a round hole.”
He added that the award was an initiative of the union designed to recognise individuals and institutions that had made outstanding contributions to national development, security, democracy, culture and the growth of Nigeria.
He said, “Your appointment by Mr President demonstrates the importance of placing capable Nigerians with integrity and professional competence in strategic positions of national responsibility.
“The role of the DSS in protecting Nigeria’s national interests, gathering critical intelligence and supporting national security cannot be overemphasised.
“Particularly now that this country is confronted with complex security and emerging technological challenges, appointments like yours are the best ever done by Mr President.
“That is why this union decided to honour you with the Golden Era Pillar of Critical and Strategic Intelligence for National Development Award.”
Responding, the DSS Director-General, Oluwatosin Ajayi, expressed appreciation to the leadership of RATTAWU for the honour.
Ajayi described the recognition as a significant gesture that would further encourage him and the service to remain committed to their responsibilities to the nation.
