Killer tanker driver nabbed in Ogun
February 10, 2012 by Temitayo Famutimi Leave a Comment

The Lagos State Police Command on Thursday arrested the driver of the Conoil tanker that killed a four-year-old boy, Michael Daniel, in a compound at the Ikotun Egbe area of the state.

The Public Relations Officer for the command, Mr. Joseph Jaiyeoba, told our correspondent that the driver, Musa Ashiru, was arrested in Ogere, a settlement along Lagos-Ibadan Expressway in Ogun State.

Ashiru had gone to discharge the contents of his 33,000-litre tanker into some containers in a compound next to the place where Michael and his family members reside.

However, the tanker had some difficulties moving out of the compound as the tyres were stuck in the sand. A tipper was consequently hired to pull it out.

During the process, the hook attached to the tipper got detached forcefully and the tanker rammed into security post of the compound and the wall fell on Michael who was playing in his residence. The boy was buried under the rubble.

Michael’s sister, Joy, had said, “I was sitting in front of the house when I saw the tanker which was being towed suddenly rammed into the fence. Everybody around the scene at that time scampered for safety as the security post built at the entrance of the building collapsed.”

By the time Michael was brought out from the rubble, he had lost so much blood. He was rushed to a hospital where he was certified dead.

Ashiru, a native of Potiskum, Yobe State, is being detained at the Ikotun Police Division.

Jaiyeoba said, “The driver of the Conoil tanker that killed Michael has been arrested. The police acting on a tip-off nabbed him in Ogere Trailer Park in Ogun State this morning (Thursday) where he had been seeking refuge.

“Police investigations have so far revealed that the house where the incident happened was been used as a kerosene depot and that Ashiru had lifted the kerosene he offloaded in that compound from Port-Harcourt, Rivers State.”

Jaiyeoba assured the public that the matter would be painstakingly investigated before charging Ashiru to court.

He added that the police had concluded arrangements for the towing of the tanker to the police station to serve as an exhibit during prosecution.

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