Dozie and Joan Okoye, a newlywed couple, reportedly died in a terrible petrol tanker explosion on the Otedola Bridge, located on the Lagos-Ibadan Motorway, only weeks after their wedding. The pair, who married on February 22, 2025, were caught in the blast on Tuesday evening, March 11, 2025. According to sources, the Okoyes were on their way home when their phone lines went down unexpectedly. In a desperate search for their whereabouts, family members combed the Burns Centre in Gbagada and the Yaba Mortuary, only to find their burnt bodies later that evening.
The sole piece of identification that established their identities was their car's registration number, which was discovered among the debris of burned-out vehicles after the explosion. The cause of the explosion, which occurred about 8:08 p.m., has been identified as a 30-tonne tanker transporting gas. Authorities believe the tanker, which was apparently owned by a neighbouring petrol store, may have been to blame for the catastrophic explosion.
In addition to the fatalities, the explosion caused significant damage to surrounding structures. The De-Twist Dental Clinic suffered major damage, as did a generator house and a guard station at a nearby church building. The explosion left four burnt bodies in its aftermath, including Rotimi Adeleye, an auto mechanic who was allegedly caught in the blast.
