Tanker explosion at Oluku Market in Benin leaves eight injured, properties destroyed
The Edo State Police Command has confirmed that eight persons sustained varying degrees of burns on Thursday after a petrol tanker fell and later exploded at Oluku Market, along the Benin-Lagos Road, Edo State.
The incident occurred when the lone tanker fell near the busy market. In a statement by the Edo State Police Command, personnel, including the DPO of the Ekiadolor Division, the Area Commander of Ekiadolor, and the Deputy Commissioners of Police in charge of Operations and Investigation, were deployed to the scene to maintain law and order and ensure public safety.
The police said efforts were made to prevent the scooping of petroleum products. The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas (NUPENG) emergency response team was also on the ground to transfer the product into another truck.
“Unfortunately, at about 11:50 hrs, a fire ignited and engulfed the truck, resulting in damage to parts of the market,” the statement by the Public Relations Officer of the Edo Police Command, Eno Ikoedem, said.
