By Ade Oyeyemi
Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, has blamed the owner of a petroleum tanker for the fire outbreak that killed and injured residents and destroyed goods worth millions of naira in Oluku, Ovia North-East Local Government Area of the state.
The fire, which occurred on Thursday, October 15, reportedly engulfed parts of Oluku Market, leaving traders counting their losses.
Okpebholo, who visited the scene on Friday, attributed the incident to the decision to bring another tanker to transfer fuel from the affected vehicle, alleging that the operation was carried out without adequate safety precautions.
According to the governor, the disaster could have been avoided if the fuel had not been transferred in that manner.
“The owner of the affected tanker also brought another tanker to evacuate the fuel, which is very wrong. If this had not happened, there would not have been any fire incident,” he said.
The governor expressed sympathy for the victims and their families, describing the incident as unfortunate. He also warned residents against approaching accident scenes involving petroleum products to scoop fuel.
He said people had been collecting fuel before the explosion, despite repeated public warnings about the dangers associated with such activities.
Okpebholo noted that both state and federal authorities had invested in public awareness campaigns urging residents to stay away from fuel-related accidents, but lamented that some people continued to ignore the warnings.
Despite the destruction, the governor assured affected traders that his administration would support them and rebuild the market to enable them to resume their businesses.
He also disclosed that he had spoken with the First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, who reportedly expressed concern and sympathy for the victims and families of those who died.
As part of his visit, the governor proceeded to the Burns and Plastic Surgery Ward of the Accident and Emergency Department of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, where some victims were receiving treatment.
While addressing parents of the injured victims, Okpebholo reiterated the need for residents to observe safety precautions and avoid scooping fuel from fallen or damaged tankers.
He again pledged government assistance for traders whose shops and goods were destroyed, assuring them that they would not be left to bear the losses alone.
Earlier, the market secretary, Blessing Itoje, appealed to the governor for urgent assistance, explaining that traders were unable to recover their belongings before the fire consumed their shops and merchandise.
She said many of the affected traders depended on their businesses to provide for their families, while some were widows struggling with financial obligations and loan repayments.
“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,” Itoje said.
She added that some traders had been hospitalised following the incident, with others reportedly requiring oxygen and medical attention.
Another trader, Julie Ologbosere, also appealed to the state government for assistance, saying the fire had wiped out the traders’ means of livelihood.
The governor’s visit came amid efforts to assess the extent of the destruction and provide support to those affected by the tragedy.
