Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, was thrown into tension on Saturday evening after a strange liquid suspected to be Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), commonly known as diesel, was discovered in a community well at Omikunle, Yemetu area.
The Oyo State Police Command, in a statement on Sunday, confirmed the startling incident, which was first reported to the Yemetu Police Division around 6:50 p.m. A rapid response team led by the Divisional Police Officer, a Chief Superintendent of Police, stormed the scene and found the well brimming with the petroleum product.
According to eyewitnesses, curious residents had already begun gathering around the site with containers, eager to scoop the liquid before police swiftly cordoned off the area. Armed officers, backed by neighborhood watch members, secured the location to prevent a stampede or possible fire disaster.
The police disclosed that the Oyo State Ministry of Environment has been drafted in to manage and safely dispose of the hazardous substance. Early investigations suggest the contamination may have been caused by a leakage from an underground storage tank in the vicinity.
> “The area has been secured and we are working with the Oyo State Ministry of Environment to handle and dispose of the hazardous material. Preliminary findings indicate a possible underground tank leak,” the police said in the statement.
They assured residents that the situation is under control, adding that investigations are ongoing to trace the exact source of the leak and forestall any recurrence.
The command further urged the public to remain calm but vigilant, warning against indiscriminate scooping of suspicious liquids from wells or streams, which could pose grave environmental and health hazards.
As at press time, calm has returned to the Omikunle community, though anxiety still lingers among residents over the mysterious diesel spill.
PIONEER NEWS 