At least eight people sustained burn injuries after a petrol tanker caught fire near Oluku Market along the Benin-Lagos Road in Edo State, damaging parts of the market and destroying several vehicles.
The incident occurred on Thursday after a lone tanker was involved in an accident at about 7:30 am. The fire reportedly broke out later, at approximately 11:50 am, while members of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) emergency response team were transferring petrol into another truck.
Edo State Police Command spokesperson Eno Ikedem disclosed the details in a statement, saying the police evacuated the injured victims to the nearest hospital, where they are receiving treatment.
The blaze also destroyed two buses, an Audi saloon car and a truck, while parts of the nearby market were damaged. The police said the total value of the losses had yet to be determined.
Security personnel were deployed to the scene to manage the situation, protect residents and prevent further casualties. The deployment included the divisional police officer of Ekiadolor Division, the area commander and deputy commissioners of police responsible for operations and investigation.
According to Ikedem, some people were evacuated from the area as emergency responders worked to contain the situation and stop individuals from attempting to collect petrol from the fallen tanker.
Personnel of the Nigerian Army and the Edo State Security Corps also joined police operatives at the scene to prevent further harm, maintain public order and support efforts to restore normalcy.
The police urged residents to remain calm and cooperate with security agencies and emergency responders as operations continued.
The command also warned against scooping petrol from fallen tankers, stressing that the practice exposes people to potentially fatal fires and explosions and can result in extensive damage to property.
The circumstances surrounding the initial tanker accident and the full extent of the damage had yet to be established in the police statement.