Anxious Edo Youths Put Lives in Danger, Struggle for Fuel from Overturned Tanker
By Simeon OSAJIE
Anxious Edo youths has gambled the penalties of a likely explosion as they crowded the scene of an overturned fuel tanker in Irrua, the administrative headquarters of Esan West local government area of Edo State to scoop the inflammable product.
A viral video showed that a concerned citizen at the busy Benin-Abuja highway managed to discourage some of the youths from approaching the tanker, warning of the possible danger. The accident occurred in an area with compact vegetation, which could have led to a major fire outbreak.
Recall that in recent times, fuel tanker explosions had claimed about 300 lives in different parts of the country. In Niger State, no fewer than 86 people were killed January 18, 2025, and scores injured; on October 17, 2024, over 150 persons were killed in a similar incident in Jigawa State with many injured and others unaccounted for, while in Agbor, Delta State, about five persons died on January 5, 2025, when a tanker exploded after losing control.
Despite the advices, some individuals still took the risk to continue recouping the fuel with all manner of containers. There was no security presence at the scene to prevent the crowd from helping themselves to the spilled fuel from the tanker.
As at the time of filing in this report, efforts to reach the Edo State Police Public Relations Officer, Edo State Police Command, Moses Yamu, for comments were unsuccessful.
Concerned Nigerians underscore the need for more public awareness on the dangers of scooping fuel from fallen tankers because of its inflammable nature.
