A tanker fire on Tuesday destroyed parts of the Okokomaiko Police Station in Lagos State, causing panic and forcing staff and officers to flee for safety.
The incident reportedly began when the tanker caught fire while offloading diesel into the storage tank of a hotel adjacent to the police facility. Witnesses said the fire started from the truck’s engine before rapidly engulfing the tanker and spreading to the station.
Eyewitness Tolupe described the chaotic scene: “The truck driver abandoned the vehicle and fled when the fire escalated. Most of the policemen serving in the division also fled the scene.”
The blaze created a stampede as hotel staff and police officers scrambled to escape, fearing entrapment. The inferno reportedly consumed sections of the police station before emergency responders arrived to contain it.
Authorities have yet to confirm the extent of the damage or if there were any casualties. The Lagos State Fire Service is expected to release further details following their investigation into the cause of the fire.
