- A diesel-laden tanker overturned at Poka, Epe, on Wednesday, March 11, 2026, spilling its contents and sparking fears of a fire outbreak.
- Quick intervention by the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service and LASTMA prevented a catastrophe, but the incident has reignited calls for stricter regulation of heavy-duty vehicles.
- The accident adds to a grim list of recent tragedies in the Epe corridor, including the death of worshippers in an RCCG auditorium and a fatal truck crash at Aiyetoro Junction.
The Poka community in Epe was thrown into a state of panic on Wednesday morning after a tanker carrying thousands of liters of diesel lost control and somersaulted near the traffic light area.
Eko Hot Blog reports that the vehicle, which reportedly lost “vehicular equilibrium” while in motion, spilled a massive volume of its combustible cargo across the road, effectively paralyzing traffic and forcing residents and shop owners to flee for safety.
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Men of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, alongside officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), were swiftly deployed to the scene.
They worked frantically to cordon off the area and apply chemical foam to neutralize the spill, preventing the potential for a secondary fire disaster or the dangerous scooping of fuel by locals.
While no lives were lost in this specific incident, the trauma of recent weeks has left the community on edge.
This latest spill at Poka comes amidst a disturbing “epidemic” of crashes involving articulated vehicles in Epe.
Residents are increasingly vocal about the lack of safety measures as heavy-duty trucks continue to claim lives on local corridors.
The Poka incident is just the latest in a string of recent horrors:
- RCCG Church Tragedy (January 14, 2026): Six worshippers were killed and several others injured when a truck loaded with sharp sand suffered brake failure and crashed directly into the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) auditorium along Hospital Road, Epe.The victims were caught off-guard during an evening prayer session.
- Aiyetoro Junction Fatality (March 1, 2026): Only ten days ago, a truck laden with yams lost control while making a U-turn at Aiyetoro Junction, smashing into a stationary commercial tricycle. The impact killed one passenger instantly and left three others with life-threatening injuries.
- Pokia Junction Crash (January 2026): Two people, a commercial motorcyclist and his passenger lost their lives when an empty PMS tanker moving at high speed collided with them near the inward Araga stretch. And so many more.
The recurring accidents at “black spots” like Poka and Aiyetoro have sparked intense debate among stakeholders.
Many residents are now demanding that the Lagos State Government enforce a total ban on the movement of articulated vehicles during peak hours and install permanent speed breakers at steep descents like the one leading to Hospital Road.
Recovery operations to upright the fallen tanker and fully reopen the Poka axis were still ongoing as of Wednesday afternoon.
However, the shadow of these recent deaths continues to loom large over the community, with many fearing that without urgent intervention, it is only a matter of time before the next tragedy strikes.
