OLUKU, OVIA NORTH-EAST LGA, EDO STATE — Former Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki has called for a comprehensive review of safety standards, stricter enforcement of regulations and stronger emergency response systems following the petrol-tanker fire that devastated parts of Oluku Market along the Benin–Lagos Expressway.
Obaseki made the call in a condolence statement issued on Friday, October 16, 2026, in which he expressed sympathy with families of those affected by the October 15 incident, including injured victims, traders who lost their goods and residents whose livelihoods were disrupted.
The former governor described the disaster as tragic and avoidable, warning that repeated incidents involving fuel tankers and other public safety hazards should not become an accepted part of life in Nigeria.
He said the tragedy highlighted the need for a critical examination of the country’s safety systems and the collective responsibility of authorities and citizens to protect human life.
According to a report by Naija News, Obaseki said inadequate safety measures, systemic inefficiencies and failure to address known risks continued to expose people to preventable dangers. He urged the relevant authorities to strengthen emergency response mechanisms and ensure that safety regulations were effectively enforced.
Tanker Fire Destroys Vehicles, Market Property
The incident occurred on Thursday, October 15, after a petrol tanker reportedly fell near Oluku Market, spilling fuel along the Benin–Lagos Road and adjoining drainage channels.
The Edo State Police Command said the tanker fell at approximately 7:30 a.m. and that a fire broke out at about 11:50 a.m. while petroleum products were being transferred into another truck.
The resulting inferno spread to nearby property, destroying two buses, an Audi saloon car, a truck and parts of the market. Traders also lost shops, merchandise and other goods.
Police spokesperson ASP Eno Ikoedem said security personnel were deployed to maintain order, evacuate members of the public and prevent people from scooping fuel from the fallen tanker. The victims who sustained burn injuries were taken to the University of Benin Teaching Hospital for treatment.
The Federal Road Safety Corps also participated in the response. However, reports on the number of people injured and the possibility of fatalities differed as the emergency response continued.
Casualty Figures Remain Unconfirmed
The precise death toll from the Oluku disaster had not been conclusively established in the official statements available at the time of reporting.
The Edo State Police Command confirmed that eight people sustained varying degrees of burn injuries. The FRSC’s Edo Sector Commander, Preye Ezekiel Bedford, was also reported as saying on Thursday evening that the corps had not confirmed any fatalities at that point.
Other media reports subsequently cited additional casualty concerns, while the News Agency of Nigeria reported that injured victims were receiving treatment and that the final number of deaths, if any, remained uncertain.
IBN News could not independently verify a final official death toll as of publication. The figures should therefore be treated as provisional rather than conclusive.
Obaseki Urges Action to Prevent Recurrence
In his statement, Obaseki said the incident should prompt authorities to examine the weaknesses that allow preventable disasters to occur repeatedly.
He called for effective emergency response arrangements, enforcement of safety regulations and action against underlying risks that threaten lives and property.
The former governor also extended condolences to bereaved families, injured victims and traders who lost their means of livelihood, praying for the recovery of those receiving medical care and strength for those affected.
His intervention comes amid renewed concerns over the dangers associated with fallen fuel tankers, particularly when members of the public gather around spilled petroleum products.
The Oluku incident underscores the importance of keeping people away from fuel spills, securing accident scenes and allowing trained emergency personnel to manage dangerous situations. Petrol vapour can ignite rapidly, turning an accident into a major fire with devastating consequences.
The full scale of the human and economic losses at Oluku remains uncertain. A final casualty assessment and a comprehensive evaluation of the damage would help establish the extent of the tragedy and inform measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.
