Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has promised to rebuild the Oluku Market in Ovia North-East Local Government Area and provide support for victims of the fire disaster that destroyed properties and goods worth millions of naira, leaving several persons injured.
The governor gave the assurance during a visit to the scene of the incident, where he sympathised with affected traders and residents and described the tragedy as an avoidable disaster.
The incident occurred on October 15, 2026, when a petrol tanker reportedly fell by the roadside and spilled its contents, attracting residents and traders who rushed to scoop fuel from the fallen tanker.
While some were seen collecting petrol from the drainage channel, others moved dangerously close to the tanker in an attempt to obtain the product.
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The situation took a devastating turn when another tanker was brought to transfer the petrol from the fallen vehicle. The operation reportedly triggered an explosion, sending flames across the area and causing extensive destruction.
The inferno engulfed the nearby Oluku Market, destroying shops and goods, particularly food items, valued at millions of naira. Several persons sustained injuries in the incident.
Concerned by the scale of destruction, Governor Monday Okpebholo led a high-powered delegation, including his deputy, Dennis Idahosa, and Senator Adams Oshiomhole, to the scene of the disaster.
The governor was received by a large crowd of residents and traders, many of whom recounted their ordeal and appealed for urgent government assistance to enable them to recover from their losses.
After listening to the affected traders, Governor Okpebholo assured them that his administration would not abandon them in their moment of distress.
He promised to rebuild the market and support those affected by the fire, while expressing displeasure over the circumstances that led to the explosion, describing the destruction as avoidable.
The governor and his entourage subsequently proceeded to the emergency ward of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, UBTH, to assess the condition of the injured victims and receive updates on their treatment.
Eleven persons were reported to be receiving medical attention at the hospital’s emergency ward.
Beyond the destruction of property and the injuries sustained, the Oluku tragedy raises serious questions about public safety, the dangers of scooping fuel from fallen tankers and the role of economic hardship in such risky decisions.
The incident underscores the urgent need for public enlightenment, strict enforcement of safety regulations, and prompt emergency response to tanker accidents.
A fallen petrol tanker is not an opportunity to obtain free fuel; it is a potential death trap capable of turning an ordinary day into a devastating tragedy.
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(Editor: Ebuwa Omo-Osagie)
