Tanker Explosion: Widows, Traders Count Losses As Okpebholo Pledges Relief

Traders at Oluku Market along the Benin-Lagos Road in Edo State have recounted their ordeal following Thursday’s petrol tanker explosion that destroyed their shops, goods and other property, leaving many struggling to rebuild their livelihoods.

The victims, some of whom said they depended on their daily earnings to feed their families and repay loans, appealed for urgent assistance as Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, visited the scene on Friday and promised to rebuild the market.

The market’s secretary, Blessing Itoje, said the traders lost everything to the inferno, adding that they could not salvage any of their belongings before the fire spread through the market.

“We couldn’t even pick anything; everything burnt to ashes. Some of us are widows, and we use our meagre earnings to care for our families,” she said while appealing to the governor and his entourage for assistance.

Itoje, who painted a grim picture of the victims’ circumstances, disclosed that some traders had been hospitalised following the incident, with others reportedly requiring oxygen.

“Some of the traders were admitted to hospital due to the shock; some are on oxygen. Please, our father, some of us are servicing loans as I speak,” she pleaded.

Another trader, Julie Ologbosere, also appealed to the governor for support, lamenting that the affected traders had been left with nothing.

Responding to their appeals, Governor Monday Okpebholo expressed sadness over the incident and assured the victims that his administration would not abandon them.

“We are sorry,” the governor said, reiterating his commitment to rebuilding the market and supporting affected traders to recover their livelihoods.

He also disclosed that First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, had expressed sympathy with the victims and families affected by the tragedy.

The governor, however, urged residents to exercise caution around fallen petrol tankers, warning against the dangerous practice of scooping fuel.

“Before the explosion, people were scooping fuel. But the state and federal governments have spent a lot of money on advertisements to educate the public to stay away from such disasters, but people won’t listen,” he said.

He also criticised the decision to bring another tanker to evacuate fuel from the fallen vehicle without adequate safety precautions, saying such operations required proper safety measures.

As part of his visit, Okpebholo proceeded to the burns and plastic ward of the Accident and Emergency Department of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), where some victims were receiving treatment.

The hospital’s Chief Medical Director, Prof. Idia Ize-Iyamu, conducted the governor, alongside his deputy, Dennis Idahosa, former Edo governor and Senator Adams Oshiomhole, and Senator Matthew Urhoghide, around the facilities to see the injured victims.

At the hospital, the governor again appealed to residents to heed safety warnings to prevent further casualties.

Meanwhile, the Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has called for a thorough, transparent and independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the explosion.

In a statement issued by its State Chairman, Nosa M. Ogieva-Okunbor, the party sympathised with the victims, their families, and affected traders, and wished those receiving treatment at UBTH a speedy recovery.

It urged the state government to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident, including the period between the tanker accident and the outbreak of the fire, as well as the measures taken to secure the area.

The PDP also called for adequate medical care and relief for victims, as well as a review of the equipment, workforce, and operational readiness of the State Fire Service and other emergency response agencies.

While commending medical personnel, firefighters, security operatives and other emergency responders, the party warned residents against scooping fuel from fallen tankers, stressing that no quantity of petroleum products was worth a human life.

It added that the tragedy must not be forgotten after dominating the headlines, insisting that affected families deserved support and that concrete measures were needed to prevent a recurrence.