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Five people tragically lost their lives during the early hours of October 1 when a petrol tanker overturned and burst into flames at the Ologbo section of the Sapele-Benin express road.
Mr. Bright Edafe, the Delta State Police Public Relations Officer, confirmed the fatalities, revealing that the incident resulted in the destruction of two tankers and five trailers among other vehicles. He stated, “During the fire incident, we sadly lost five lives. In addition, eight buses, two tankers, five trailers, two cars, and one motorcycle were completely consumed by the fire.”
Reports indicate that local residents rushed to the scene of the accident to collect spilled petrol, which subsequently ignited, leading to the unfortunate demise of at least five individuals.
Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori expressed deep sorrow over the tanker explosion that claimed lives, and he attributed the incident to the poor condition of federal roads. In a statement released by his Chief Press Secretary, Festus Ahon, the governor extended his condolences to the families of the victims and urged the Federal Government to swiftly address the deteriorating sections of the road. He asserted, “In the early hours of today, we received information about an explosion at Koko junction along the Warri-Benin expressway. On behalf of the government and people of Delta State, I offer my heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims who lost their lives in the inferno. This tragic and unfortunate incident could have been prevented if the Federal Government had fulfilled its responsibility of maintaining the roads. While I mourn the departed, I once again call on the Federal Government to protect our citizens from such distressing experiences. I also use this platform to caution our people against the perilous act of collecting fuel from a fallen tanker due to the highly flammable nature of the product.”
Additionally, the Delta State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Wale Abass, expressed condolences to the families of the five victims who lost their lives in the fire explosion that occurred on the previous day. In a statement released by the command’s Police Public Relations Officer, Bright Edafe, the Commissioner of Police provided details of the incident, emphasizing the dangers of scooping fuel from the tanker and its tragic consequences. He stated, “In the early hours of October 1, 2023, at approximately 0200hrs, the command recorded a tragic incident in which a tanker carrying PMS, en route to Benin along the Warri-Benin Road, overturned at Ugbenu Koko Junction. The spilled fuel attracted several youths who seized the opportunity to collect it in jerry cans and other containers. Tragically, an explosion occurred while they were doing so, resulting in a fire that engulfed the entire area. In response to this catastrophe, the scene was promptly attended to, and the victims’ bodies were transported to Oghara General Hospital’s mortuary.”
