Traders at Oluku Market in Ovia North East Local Government Area of Edo State are struggling to recover from a devastating petrol tanker fire that destroyed shops, vehicles and merchandise along the busy Benin Lagos Expressway. The disaster occurred on Thursday, October 15, when a tanker transporting Premium Motor Spirit overturned near the market, spilling petrol onto the road and surrounding drainage channels. The resulting fire spread through commercial premises, leaving business owners facing substantial financial losses and forcing some families to seek alternative sources of livelihood. At least eight people sustained burns, according to the Edo State Police Command, although later community reports suggested a higher number of casualties. The incident has renewed concerns about road conditions, petroleum transportation safety and emergency preparedness in densely populated commercial areas.
The tanker reportedly lost stability while attempting to negotiate a turning point near the Oluku bypass at approximately 7:30 a.m. Witnesses attributed the accident partly to a damaged section of the highway, although investigators have not formally established the precise cause. The vehicle overturned, releasing petrol that spread across the road and into adjoining drainage channels. Police officers, soldiers, road safety personnel and other security operatives were deployed to prevent people from approaching the dangerous scene. Despite repeated warnings, some residents reportedly attempted to collect the spilled petrol in containers. The authorities subsequently began arrangements to transfer the remaining fuel into another tanker, but a fire broke out at approximately 11:50 a.m., engulfing nearby vehicles and market structures.
Petrol tanker accidents can create serious fire hazards when leaking fuel spreads to surrounding roads, markets and drainage systems.
The fire destroyed large quantities of clothing, foodstuffs, electronics, household goods and other merchandise belonging to traders operating in the market. Several vehicles were also burnt, including commercial buses, a passenger car and a truck. Subsequent reports indicated that two adjoining market areas and approximately 30 shops outside the main market structures were affected, with as many as 2,000 traders facing losses or disruption. Property owners estimated the destruction at billions of naira, but the police said the total financial loss had not been independently determined. Some traders alleged that their shops were looted during the confusion, adding another concern to the disaster. The full extent of the destruction will require a documented assessment of damaged premises, inventories and vehicles.
For individual business owners, the financial consequences have been severe. Ebun Raheem, a clothing trader, said she had purchased new stock shortly before the accident and lost merchandise worth more than three million naira. Another trader disclosed that he had recently obtained a business loan from OPay and was expected to begin repayment in November, leaving him uncertain about how to meet the obligation after losing his inventory. Faith Julius, another affected businesswoman, reported that she had recently invested more than two million naira in goods and borrowed an additional two million naira to purchase solar equipment. Their experiences illustrate how the destruction of stock can leave small businesses without revenue while existing debts and household expenses continue to accumulate.
Traders at Oluku Market are assessing damage to their businesses and seeking assistance to replace destroyed goods.
The disaster also affected property owners and families who depended on rental income and daily commercial activities around the market. Alhaji Kazeem Hassan, whose building sustained damage, explained that some tenants had recently paid rent for the coming year, raising concerns about their ability to recover from the loss of their premises. Blessing Itoje, the market secretary, told Governor Monday Okpebholo that many traders were unable to rescue even a small portion of their goods before the flames spread. She explained that some affected businesswomen were widows who relied on their earnings to support their children, while others were servicing loans. Reports that some traders required medical attention after experiencing severe distress further demonstrated the human impact of the fire.
The Edo State Police Command initially confirmed that eight people sustained burns and were taken to the University of Benin Teaching Hospital for treatment. The Federal Road Safety Corps subsequently reported 10 injured persons, including eight who sustained serious injuries and two whose injuries were less severe. Later reports from the affected community indicated that at least six people had died and approximately 20 others were injured. However, those higher figures had not been reconciled with a final publicly verified casualty statement from the police and road safety authorities. Establishing an accurate death toll remains essential for identifying victims, supporting affected families and determining the full human cost of the incident.
Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo visited the affected market and promised assistance for traders and families impacted by the disaster.
Governor Monday Okpebholo visited the scene on Friday, October 16, and promised that his administration would rebuild Oluku Market and assist traders who lost their shops and merchandise. The governor expressed sympathy for affected families and described the incident as avoidable, questioning the safety arrangements surrounding the attempt to transfer petrol from the overturned tanker. He also urged residents to avoid collecting fuel from damaged petroleum vehicles because of the danger of ignition and explosion. Okpebholo subsequently visited injured victims receiving treatment at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital and reiterated the government’s commitment to supporting their recovery. His administration has not publicly established a complete compensation framework covering every affected trader or property owner.
The tragedy has also generated disagreement over the response of emergency services. Some residents questioned whether firefighters arrived quickly enough to prevent the blaze from spreading through the market. However, Edo State Fire Service Director General Anthony Ojo rejected allegations that his personnel failed to respond appropriately. Ojo explained that firefighters were deployed after receiving information about the overturned tanker but encountered hostility from individuals attempting to collect the spilled fuel. According to him, some people threw stones at emergency workers, complicating efforts to secure the area before the fire began. His account highlights the risks faced by responders when dangerous petroleum spills attract crowds. A comprehensive investigation would need to examine both the emergency response and the safety procedures used during the fuel transfer operation.
Road safety officials continue to emphasise proper tanker maintenance, safe fuel handling and stronger enforcement to prevent petroleum transport disasters.
The Oluku incident recalls previous tanker disasters in Nigeria, where fuel spills and explosions have caused substantial loss of life and property. On October 15, 2024, a petrol tanker explosion in Majia, Jigawa State, killed more than 100 people after residents gathered near an overturned vehicle to collect leaking fuel. The disaster prompted national concern about public awareness, emergency response and the movement of hazardous petroleum products through populated areas. Similar incidents have exposed recurring weaknesses involving road conditions, vehicle maintenance, crowd control and the handling of highly flammable cargo. The Oluku fire demonstrates why preventing tanker accidents requires coordinated action by transport operators, road safety agencies, emergency responders and government authorities.
As of October 27, 2026, traders at Oluku Market are continuing to assess their losses while awaiting further government intervention. Reports published on October 21 indicated that clearing operations had begun at the damaged market, with affected traders welcoming the governor’s response but calling for the rebuilding commitment to be fulfilled. The immediate priorities include completing the casualty assessment, supporting injured victims, documenting damaged businesses and establishing the cause of the fire. Traders have also demanded repairs to the deteriorated road sections they believe contributed to the accident. Beyond the physical reconstruction of Oluku Market, the disaster has highlighted the need for financial assistance, stronger petroleum transportation safeguards and reliable emergency response systems to protect traders and residents from similar tragedies.
