Crusaderhotnews
BENIN CITY, Edo State — October 15, 2026
A devastating fire outbreak at Oluku Market, along the Benin–Lagos Expressway in Edo State, has destroyed shops, goods, vehicles and other property, leaving several people with serious burn injuries on the same day Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, arrived in the state for an official visit.
The First Lady arrived in Benin City at about 11:18 a.m. on Thursday for a programme that included the inauguration of 50 compressed natural gas (CNG) buses and an empowerment initiative for 5,000 women under her Renewed Hope Initiative.
However, the day was overshadowed by a major fire incident at Oluku, in Ovia North-East Local Government Area, following the explosion of a petrol-laden tanker.
According to media reports, the tanker overturned earlier in the morning, spilling petrol around the market and adjoining drainage channels. Some residents reportedly gathered to scoop the spilled fuel before the tanker burst into flames at approximately 1 p.m.
The resulting inferno spread rapidly to nearby shops, buildings and vehicles, leaving traders and residents counting their losses.
Reports by crusaderhotnews indicated that 11 people sustained varying degrees of burns, while injured victims were taken to the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) for emergency medical attention. Other media outlets reported possible fatalities, although the death toll had not been consistently confirmed at the time of publication.
Personnel of the Edo State Fire Service reportedly responded to the incident, while medical teams at UBTH mobilised to treat the injured.
The incident has raised renewed concerns about the dangers of scooping fuel from fallen tankers and the need for effective emergency response measures to protect lives and property.
The timing of the fire, coinciding with the First Lady’s visit, has also attracted public attention and political commentary.
However, there is no verified evidence establishing a direct connection between the presidential wife's visit and the cause of the fire.
As affected traders and residents assess their losses, calls for assistance to victims and preventive measures against similar disasters are likely to remain central to discussions surrounding the incident.
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