It could have been far worse. A petrol tanker fell by a busy market on the Benin-Lagos Road, and minutes later, the whole area was in flames.

Here is what we know so far, according to reporting by cbinews.tv:

Eight people have been left with varying degrees of burns after a lone petrol tanker fell and exploded at Oluku Market, along the ever-busy Benin-Lagos Road, on Thursday.

The Edo State Police Command, in a statement by its PRO, Eno Ikoedem, confirmed the incident. The tanker reportedly fell close to the market, spilling its contents.

Police say they moved quickly - the DPO of Ekiadolor Division, the Area Commander, and Deputy Commissioners for Operations and Investigation were all deployed to cordon off the area and stop people from scooping fuel.

The NUPENG emergency team was also on ground trying to trans-load the fuel into another truck, when at about 11:50am, fire ignited and engulfed everything.

The eight injured were rushed to the Emergency Ward of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, UBTH, where they are currently receiving treatment.

On the ground, the losses are painful. Two buses, an Audi saloon car, a truck, goods and vehicles parked along the road, plus sections of Oluku market itself were completely razed. Traders were seen wailing as their wares went up in smoke. The total value is yet to be calculated.

The Chairman of Ovia North East Local Government, Orobosa Eriamiatoe, and the Aiyobahan of Benin, Chief Osamede, visited the scene to sympathise with traders and residents.

This isn't a one-off. Nigeria has seen a tragic pattern of tanker explosions, often worsened when people rush to scoop spilled petrol. From Jigawa to Niger State in recent years, similar incidents have claimed hundreds of lives. The police warning is familiar for a reason.

A combination of bad roads, overloaded and poorly maintained tankers, driver fatigue on long-haul routes like Lagos-Benin, and the highly flammable nature of PMS. Once a tanker falls in a populated area like a market, one spark - from a bike, a generator, or even a phone - can trigger an inferno.

The Police Command has urged residents to stay calm and cooperate with security agencies, and again warned the public to never scoop fuel from a fallen tanker.

Investigations are ongoing, and we are monitoring updates from UBTH on the condition of the injured.

Credit: cbinews.tv

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