Edo Tanker Explosion Kills Six, Destroys Two Markets as 2,000 Traders Count Losses

At least six people have died and about 20 others were injured after a petrol tanker fire destroyed two markets and several shops in Oluku, Ovia North-East Local Government Area of Edo State. The disaster has left an estimated 2,000 traders facing heavy financial losses.

The incident occurred on Thursday morning along the Benin-Lagos Highway, when a tanker carrying Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol, reportedly hit a damaged section of the road while turning onto the Oluku bypass.

The tanker fell, spilling fuel onto the road and nearby areas. Despite warnings from security personnel, some residents reportedly approached the scene to collect the leaking petrol in plastic containers.

Security personnel at the scene included soldiers, police officers, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) officials and members of the Edo State Security Corps.

Fuel Transfer Operation Precedes Fire

According to the report, the tanker owners later brought another tanker to transfer the remaining fuel. A fire broke out during the operation and spread rapidly, engulfing the two markets and about 30 additional shops.

The inferno destroyed goods and property reportedly worth billions of naira. Six cars, two tankers and a truck carrying biscuits were also burnt.

The affected markets belong to Chief Osamede Adun, popularly known as Bob Izua, and Comrade Osaze Uwaifo, the Okaighele of Oluku Community.

Some traders also alleged that thieves looted shops as the fire spread, adding to the losses suffered by business owners.

Traders Appeal for Government Assistance

Several traders said the disaster had wiped out their investments and left them uncertain about how to restart their businesses.

One trader, Faith Julius, said she had recently purchased goods worth more than ₦2 million. She also disclosed that she had borrowed another ₦2 million to buy solar systems just two days before the fire.

Chief Adun appealed to the Edo State Government to support the affected traders, describing the destruction as a major loss for the community.

He said billions of naira worth of goods and property had been lost in the fire.

Uwaifo also described the incident as tragic and said the community would seek government assistance for those whose businesses were destroyed.

Meanwhile, Efe Adodo, a gas station owner, said the fire spread towards her facility but was contained with fire extinguishers. She warned that nearby homes could have suffered further damage if the flames had reached the station.

Okpebholo Promises to Rebuild Oluku Market

Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo visited the affected traders on Friday and promised to rebuild Oluku Market and support those who lost their shops and goods.

The governor described the incident as avoidable and urged residents to stay away from areas where petroleum products have spilled.

He also criticised the decision to transfer the remaining fuel without adequate safety precautions.

Okpebholo said some people had been collecting the spilled petrol before the fire broke out, despite public safety campaigns warning against the practice.

During a separate visit to the burns and plastic ward of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), the governor reiterated his commitment to helping affected traders recover from the disaster.

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Market secretary Blessing Itoje told him that traders had been unable to rescue their goods before the flames consumed their shops.

She said some traders were widows supporting their families through small businesses, while others were still repaying loans used to finance their stock. Itoje also reported that some victims had been hospitalised following the incident, with some requiring oxygen.

Edo Fire Service Responds to Criticism

The Director-General of the Edo State Fire Service, Anthony Ojo, rejected allegations that firefighters had responded poorly to the emergency.

Ojo said his office dispatched firefighters after receiving information about the incident. However, he alleged that people trying to collect the spilled petrol chased the firefighters away and threw stones at them.

He maintained that the tanker initially fell without an explosion and said the situation escalated as people focused on recovering the spilled fuel.

The incident has renewed concerns about the dangers of approaching fuel spills and the importance of securing accident scenes before attempting to transfer petroleum products.

As affected traders await assistance, the governor’s rebuilding pledge offers a possible path towards recovery. However, many business owners still face the immediate challenge of replacing their goods, repaying loans and restoring their livelihoods.