Three people lost their lives in a fire that broke out on Sunday, June 22, 2025, in Mowodani, a locality in the municipality of Adja-Ouèrè in the Plateau department, when a truck carrying smuggled gas caught fire around 4 a.m. The disaster, caused by a tire burst, ignited the vehicle, resulting in human losses and significant material damage.
A new tragedy related to adulterated fuel trafficking, locally called kpayo, shocked the Plateau department in the early hours of this Sunday. According to the information relayed, a truck on its way on the inter-state road linking Adja-Ouèrè to Pobè suddenly caught fire near the locality of Mowodani, in the early hours of this Sunday, June 22.
The fire was reportedly triggered by a tire burst, causing the truck to overturn. The fuel carried in drums then caught fire, leading to a violent explosion and rapid spread of the flames.
The emergency services, quickly dispatched to the scene, could only assess the extent of the damage. Three charred bodies were extracted from the rubble, including two found trapped under the overturned vehicle. One of the bodies had not yet been formally identified at the time of the report.
The accident also led to a disruption of traffic for several hours, blocking the busy route between Adja-Ouèrè and Pobè. An investigation has been opened to determine the identity of the victims and the exact circumstances of the tragedy.
This new incident reignites the debate about the risks associated with the illegal transport of fuel, an activity that continues to be widespread despite many awareness campaigns and the authorities’ efforts to curb the phenomenon.