Efforts to establish the casualty figures continued on Thursday after a petrol tanker explosion at Oluku, along the Benin-Lagos Expressway in Edo State, left several people with burn injuries and destroyed shops and vehicles.
The tanker reportedly fell at about 7.45am, spilling fuel that residents began scooping. The fuel later ignited at about 1pm, causing a fire that spread to nearby shops and vehicles.
The Federal Road Safety Corps said it had recorded 10 casualties as emergency workers continued operations at the scene, although other reports put the number of injured people at 11 or more. The FRSC had not confirmed any deaths as of the time of its update, saying the casualty figures could become clearer after the evacuation of debris.
Edo State FRSC Sector Commander, Preye Ezekiel Bedford, said military personnel, police officers and federal and state fire service teams were still working to extinguish the remaining flames.
He praised the emergency responders but expressed concern that some residents had continued to scoop fuel despite warnings.
“The habit of trying to scoop fuel is unbecoming,” Bedford said, adding that some people had resisted or attacked personnel attempting to clear the area and prevent further danger.
According to reports, an eyewitness, who said she had also been scooping fuel, recounted how a soldier warned her that the hot weather and the rush to collect the spilled petrol could trigger a fire.
“As I looked back after he spoke to me, the tanker burst into flames as people around the area ran for their lives. I thank the soldier; if not, I would have been burnt by now,” she said.
The witness said two men who were directly beneath the tanker suffered severe burns, while shops built around drainage channels were also affected. Other accounts said the fire spread through Oluku Market and caught vehicles in the area.
The University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) received victims from the incident and activated its emergency response. The hospital’s Chief Medical Director, Professor Idia Ize-Iyamu, coordinated teams across the accident and emergency and burns units to stabilise those with serious injuries.
The Edo State Fire Service also deployed personnel to the scene, alongside the Federal Fire Service and security agencies.
Bedford said the FRSC would continue public education to discourage fuel scooping, including through town hall meetings, churches and other community platforms.
The incident has renewed concerns over the dangers of collecting fuel from fallen tankers, a practice that can lead to fires and mass casualties. Authorities continued efforts to secure the scene and determine the full extent of the damage and casualties.
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