A 38-year-old tanker driver, Alagbe Hezekiah, has narrated how he risked his life by driving a burning fuel tanker away from a populated area in Iwo, Osun State, in an attempt to prevent what could have become a major fire disaster involving lives, homes and businesses.
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Hezekiah, an indigene of Ogbomoso in Oyo State, said the incident occurred on Thursday, September 17, 2026, while he was making a fuel delivery at a filling station around Feesu Junction along the Iwo-Ibadan Expressway.
The fire reportedly broke out suddenly around the tanker, with its cause yet to be established.
“We don’t know where the fire came from. We don’t know what caused the fire,” Hezekiah said while recounting the incident.
According to him, an initial attempt to extinguish the flames using a fire extinguisher failed as the fire rapidly grew beyond control.
Faced with the possibility of the flames spreading to the filling station and surrounding properties, Hezekiah said his immediate concern shifted from his own safety to the lives of people around the area.
“I thought about people’s properties and their lives that should not be wasted,” he said.
Rather than abandon the burning vehicle, the driver climbed back into the truck and drove it away from the filling station and other populated locations towards a riverside where the risk to people and property was considerably lower.
Eyewitness accounts said the tanker was moved to an area opposite Lado Filling Station at Feesu Junction, away from nearby shops, houses and other filling stations.
One eyewitness said the driver’s action proved crucial because several businesses and buildings could have been affected had the fire been allowed to spread from its original location.
Hezekiah said he was fully conscious of the danger he faced while driving the burning vehicle but decided that potentially losing one life was preferable to allowing several people to be caught in a possible explosion.
“I thought about people because if the fire continued, more lives could be lost. So I thought of sacrificing my life to save other lives,” he said.
“I thought wherever it leads to, since it is only my own life, I’ll accept my fate.”
After reaching the riverside, Hezekiah managed to detach the tractor head from the burning tanker before driving the head of the vehicle farther away from the fire, further limiting the potential damage.
He acknowledged that he was frightened throughout the episode.
“I was scared, but I considered saving people’s properties and lives,” he said.
“I was ready to sacrifice my life to save other lives.”
Hezekiah said he has been driving tankers since 2004 and had never encountered an emergency of such magnitude in more than two decades behind the wheel.
He subsequently urged other tanker drivers to remain alert, courageous and capable of making quick decisions when confronted with emergencies capable of endangering the public.
“My advice for my fellow tanker drivers is that we should be brave enough for incidents like this. They will save more lives and properties,” he said.
The driver’s action has since attracted widespread commendation, with members of the public calling for formal recognition and compensation for what they described as an exceptional act of civilian bravery.
One commentator, Kamal Adewunmi, argued that Hezekiah’s action went beyond merely performing his professional duties because he knowingly exposed himself to serious personal danger in an attempt to prevent deaths and extensive property damage.
Another commenter, Anagoazeezakuta Olalekan, similarly praised the driver for prioritising the lives of residents of the community.
No loss of life was reported from the incident, while the tanker itself suffered significant fire damage.
Hezekiah’s action recalls a similar incident in Delta State in June 2022 when tanker driver Ejiro Otarigho drove a burning petrol-laden tanker away from the populated Agbarho community in Ughelli North Local Government Area to avert a potentially catastrophic explosion.
The Delta State Government subsequently honoured Otarigho with a plaque, commendation and ₦2 million cash reward for what it described as bravery, patriotism and humanity.
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