Several people have been injured, while multiple fatalities are feared following a petrol tanker explosion at Oluku Market along the Benin-Lagos Expressway in Ovia North-East Local Government Area of Edo State.
The incident occurred on Thursday, October 15, 2026, after a petrol-laden tanker reportedly fell and spilled its contents into nearby drainage channels, prompting residents and passers-by to scoop the fuel before the explosion.
Eyewitnesses said the fire erupted as people gathered around the fallen tanker to collect the spilled petrol. The inferno spread rapidly to nearby shops, market stalls and vehicles, destroying goods and property worth millions of naira.
One eyewitness recounted that a soldier had warned him about the danger of scooping fuel under the hot weather shortly before the tanker burst into flames. He said he escaped after turning away from the scene.
Several victims sustained varying degrees of burns and were evacuated to the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) for treatment. The hospital’s Chief Medical Director, Professor Idia Ize-Iyamu, led emergency response efforts to stabilise the injured.
As of Friday, October 16, reports on the number of casualties remained conflicting. While some reports indicated that people had died, the Edo State Police Command confirmed that eight people sustained burns in the incident.
The explosion also destroyed vehicles and parts of the market, leaving traders counting their losses.
Security agencies have continued to warn residents against scooping fuel from fallen tankers, stressing the danger such practices pose to lives and property.
