ORE, Nigeria – No fewer than 20 individuals, including three children and a pregnant woman, were burned to death in Ore, a town in the Odigbo Local Government Area of Ondo State on Sunday, July 23, 2023.
The victims were involved in fuel scooping, an illegal and dangerous practice of gathering fuel from spilled or leaked tankers, when a fire ignited on the Benin-Ore-Sagamu Expressway.
According to an eyewitness, the disaster occurred when a petrol tanker overturned, spilling its contents onto the road.
Despite falling rain, locals flocked to the site to collect the fuel, when a spark from a mobile phone ignited the fire.
“We were inside the church when the tanker fell and spilled its contents on the road,” the eyewitness recounted. “At that time, the rain was falling. Despite that, people still rushed there and started scooping fuel when the fire started after a spark from a phone.”
The eyewitness further described the devastating scene: “At the scene, we have counted about three children and over 15 bodies we can’t identify, and a pregnant woman that wanted to buy the fuel died in the incident. They were burnt beyond recognition.”
Mrs Funmilayo Odunlami, the state Police Public Relations Officer, confirmed the incident and described the victims as fuel scoopers.
“They were scooping fuel from a tanker when the fire started. We have commenced an investigation into the matter,” the PPRO stated.
This incident serves as a harsh reminder of the risks associated with fuel scooping.
This practice is illegal and life-threatening due to the highly flammable nature of petrol.
Despite this, the practice remains a recurring menace in many parts of Nigeria, where fuel scarcity and economic hardship are frequent.
Taraba: Millions Lost as Early Morning Inferno Ravages Jalingo’s Commercial Area
A catastrophic fire erupted in the early morning hours on Sunday, July 23, 2023, has decimated multiple businesses in the ATC area of Jalingo, the capital city of Taraba State, Nigeria.
The inferno, which reportedly began around 3 a.m., has led to substantial financial loss, with the value of the destroyed goods estimated to be in the millions of Naira.
The fire affected at least ten shops, reducing merchandise and infrastructure to ashes.
Among those profoundly impacted was Gabriel Olayinka, Chief Executive Officer of Taraba News, a local media outlet.
He lost two shops to the flames.
“My goods, including stationery, were all burnt to ashes,” Olayinka said, urging the government to offer assistance in the aftermath of the disaster.
Another victim echoed the plea for help, a female shop owner, who guided reporters through the remnants of her burnt-out store.
Still reeling from the shock of the incident, she voiced her concern about the future.
“It would take several years to recover from the shock of the incident,” she said, appealing to the state governor, philanthropic individuals, and groups to extend aid.
“To survive this tragedy, government and other well-to-do persons must rescue us.”
A third victim, who had recently stocked his shop with merchandise purchased on credit, was visibly distraught.
“I almost collapsed when I arrived here and saw that my shop and all the goods I borrowed money from the bank to purchase have all been engulfed by the fire,” he lamented, calling upon the government and national humanitarian organizations for assistance.
While the official cause of the fire is yet to be confirmed, preliminary reports suggest a power surge might have sparked it after electricity was restored to the area.
As the devastated community looks to recover, the tragic event has sparked conversations about the need for improved fire safety measures and reliable electrical infrastructure.
