By Samuel Olusegun Precious
Tragedy struck in Benin City, Edo State on Thursday, October 15, 2026, as a petrol tanker explosion killed several people and destroyed goods worth millions of naira.
The incident occurred along the Benin-Lagos Expressway at Oluku, Ovia North-East Local Government Area, when a tanker loaded with Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) fell while trying to make a U-turn around 7:30 a.m. and spilled its contents.
Witnesses said shortly after the tanker fell, residents and traders from the nearby Oluku Market rushed to the scene with jerrycans and buckets to scoop fuel, despite warnings from security operatives.Hours later, at about 1:00 p.m., the tanker burst into flames, engulfing the area.
At least 11 people, including a soldier who was trying to disperse the crowd, were confirmed dead on the spot, while no fewer than 10 others with severe burns were rushed to the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH).
Eyewitnesses said two men from northern Nigeria who were directly under the tanker scooping fuel were burnt beyond recognition. A survivor narrated how a soldier saved his life moments before the explosion.
“I was also among those who were scooping the fuel. I escaped by a whisker. It was a soldier who called me and drew my attention to the fact that it was sunny and the way the people rushed to scoop the fuel might ignite fire. As I looked back after he spoke to me, the tanker burst into flames,” he said.
The fire spread rapidly into the Bob Izua Market at Oluku, destroying shops built on drainage channels, a filling station, vehicles and other property. Firefighters from the Edo State Fire Service battled for hours to put out the inferno, while security operatives cordoned off the area.As of press time, official casualty figures were yet to be released, but sources at UBTH said more bodies had been deposited in the morgue.
The Edo State Government has reacted to the petrol tanker explosion that rocked Oluku Market along the Benin-Lagos Expressway, describing the incident as tragic and avoidable.The incident occurred on Thursday, October 15, 2026, at about 7:30 a.m. when a tanker laden with Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) fell while attempting a U-turn near Oluku Market in Ovia North-East Local Government Area. The tanker later exploded at about 11:50 a.m. while residents were scooping fuel, injuring at least 8 persons and destroying vehicles and shops.
In a statement by the Edo State Emergency Management Agency (EdoSEMA), the government said it received the news of the fire outbreak with deep sadness.
The Executive Secretary of EdoSEMA, Jerry Idahosa, said emergency responders including men of the Edo State Fire Service, Federal Fire Service, Police, Army, FRSC and Edo State Security Corps were immediately deployed to the scene to contain the fire and evacuate victims.
According to the Police, eight persons who sustained varying degrees of burns were evacuated to the Emergency Ward of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) where they are currently receiving treatment. Two buses, an Audi saloon car, a truck and parts of the Oluku market were destroyed.
Idahosa noted that the actual casualty figure is still being ascertained as responders are still clearing the debris. The State Government commiserated with families of victims and traders who lost goods worth millions of naira in the inferno, and assured that government will offset the medical bills of those receiving treatment at UBTH.
It also warned residents to desist from the dangerous practice of scooping fuel from fallen tankers, noting that no quantity of petrol is worth a human life.The government commended the swift response of security agencies and health workers at UBTH led by the Chief Medical Director, Prof. Idia Ize-Iyamu, for their efforts in stabilizing victims and preventing further casualties.
It urged the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and other relevant agencies to intensify sensitization on the dangers of fuel scooping and called on motorists to adhere to safety regulations to prevent a recurrence.
