BENIN CITY, Edo State — Eight persons sustained varying degrees of burns following a tanker accident and subsequent fire outbreak at Oluku Market along the Benin–Lagos Road in Edo State, the state police command has confirmed.
The incident, which occurred on Thursday, October 15, 2026, also resulted in the destruction of two buses, an Audi saloon car and a truck, according to the police.
In a press release issued on Thursday, the Edo State Police Command said the tanker accident occurred at about 7:30 a.m., prompting the deployment of security personnel to the scene to maintain law and order and protect lives and property.
The command said the response team included the Divisional Police Officer of Ekiadolor Division, the Area Commander, Ekiadolor, and the Deputy Commissioners of Police in charge of Operations and Investigation.
According to the police, members of the public were evacuated to safety as efforts were made to prevent people from scooping petrol from the fallen tanker.
The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) emergency response team was also reportedly at the scene to transfer the petroleum product into another truck.
However, the situation took a tragic turn when a fire broke out at about 11:50 a.m., engulfing the truck and causing extensive damage to vehicles and parts of the market.
The police confirmed that eight persons sustained varying degrees of burns and were evacuated to the emergency ward of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), where they are receiving medical attention.
The command added that the total value of the property destroyed in the incident had yet to be determined.
Police operatives, working alongside personnel of the Nigerian Army and the Edo State Security Corps, remained at the scene to manage the situation, prevent further harm and restore normalcy to the affected area.
The police also urged residents to remain calm and cooperate with security personnel and emergency responders.
The command specifically warned members of the public against scooping petroleum products from fallen tankers, stressing that the practice could result in loss of lives and destruction of property.
The statement was signed by ASP Eno Ikoedem, ANIPR, Police Public Relations Officer of the Edo State Police Command, and dated October 15, 2026.
The police clarification provides an official account of the incident, confirming eight burn victims and detailing the damage to vehicles and market property.
