Eight Burnt as Petrol Tanker Fire Destroys Vehicles at Edo Market

Eight persons have sustained varying degrees of burns following a petrol tanker accident and subsequent fire outbreak at Oluku Market along the Benin–Lagos Road in Edo State.

The incident, which occurred on Thursday, October 15, 2026, also led to the destruction of two buses, an Audi saloon car and a truck, while parts of the market were damaged.

The Edo State Police Command confirmed the incident in a statement issued on Thursday, explaining that the tanker accident occurred at about 7:30 a.m.

According to the command, security personnel were immediately deployed to the scene to maintain law and order, protect lives and property, and prevent members of the public from scooping petrol from the fallen tanker.

The response team included the Divisional Police Officer of Ekiadolor Division, the Area Commander, Ekiadolor, and the Deputy Commissioners of Police in charge of Operations and Investigation.

The police said members of the public were evacuated to safety as efforts were made to manage the situation. An emergency response team from the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) was also at the scene to transfer the petroleum product into another truck.

However, the situation worsened when a fire broke out at about 11:50 a.m., engulfing the truck and spreading destruction to nearby vehicles and parts of the market.

The command confirmed that eight persons sustained varying degrees of burns and were taken to the emergency ward of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), where they are receiving medical attention.

It added that the total value of the property destroyed in the incident had yet to be determined.

Police operatives, working alongside personnel of the Nigerian Army and the Edo State Security Corps, remained at the scene to contain the situation, prevent further casualties and restore normalcy.

The command urged residents to remain calm and cooperate with security personnel and emergency responders.

It also warned members of the public against scooping petroleum products from fallen tankers, stressing that the dangerous practice could lead to serious injuries, loss of lives and destruction of property.

The statement was signed by the Police Public Relations Officer of the Edo State Command, ASP Eno Ikoedem, ANIPR, and dated October 15, 2026.