Adaobi Rhema Oguejiofor
No fewer than 20 persons are confirmed to have burnt to death in Ore, Odigbo Local Government Area of Ondo State.
From the incident, which took place on Sunday, it was gathered that the victims were scooping fuel from a petrol tanker that fell and spilled its content along the Benin–Ore-Sagamu Expressway.
An eyewitness stated that the fire was ignited by a spark from a phone held by one of the persons scooping the fuel. According to him, the victims of the disaster included three children and a pregnant woman who brought a sum of N100,000 to the scene to purchase fuel.
The eyewitness noted that “we were inside the church when the tanker fell and spilled its contents on the road. Shortly after it fell and spilled the fuel on the road, some people rushed to the place to scoop fuel.
At that time, rain was falling. Despite that, people still rushed there and started scooping fuel when the fire started after a spark from a phone.
“At the scene, we have counted about three children and over 15 bodies we can’t identify, and also a pregnant woman that wanted to buy the fuel also died in the incident. They were all burnt beyond recognition.”
The State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mrs. Funmilayo Odunlami, confirmed the incident and described the victims as fuel scoopers.
In her own words, “they were scooping fuel from a tanker when the fire started. We have commenced an investigation into the matter.”