BENIN CITY, Edo State — Victims of the tragic petrol tanker explosion near Oluku Market along the Benin-Lagos Expressway in Ovia North-East Local Government Area of Edo State have appealed to the state government and well-meaning Nigerians for urgent assistance following the devastating incident.
The explosion, which occurred on Thursday, October 15, 2026, reportedly followed a fuel tanker accident in the early hours of the day. The tanker, said to be carrying petrol, reportedly overturned while attempting to manoeuvre or make a U-turn near Oluku Market, spilling its contents onto the road and adjoining drainage channels.
The situation later turned tragic when the spilled petrol reportedly caught fire and triggered a massive explosion at about 1 p.m., engulfing parts of the area in flames.
Several people were feared dead in the inferno, with reports indicating that some victims were burnt beyond recognition. A soldier was also reportedly among those affected, while at least 10 people and several others were said to have sustained varying degrees of burns and other injuries.
The injured victims were reportedly rushed to the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) for emergency medical attention.
The explosion also caused significant damage to property, as flames reportedly spread to nearby shops and other structures erected along the drainage channels, leaving affected traders and residents counting their losses.
Some accounts indicated that residents and passers-by had gathered around the scene to scoop spilled petrol before the fire broke out, although the precise circumstances surrounding the ignition remain subject to confirmation by the relevant authorities.
In the aftermath of the disaster, affected victims and traders whose shops were destroyed have appealed to the Edo State Government, compassionate individuals and other well-meaning Nigerians to come to their aid.
They are seeking urgent support to help injured victims access medical care and enable displaced traders to recover from the losses suffered in the incident.
The tragedy has once again raised concerns about the dangers associated with handling fuel spilled from overturned tankers, particularly when members of the public gather at accident scenes to collect the highly flammable product.
Residents have also been reminded of the need to keep a safe distance from fuel tanker accident scenes and allow emergency responders to manage such incidents to prevent further loss of lives and property.
As affected families and business owners struggle to cope with the aftermath, calls for assistance continue to grow, with victims hoping for timely intervention from the state government and members of the public.
