Police React To Tragic Fuel Tanker Explosion In Ondo State, Confirm Victims As Fuel Scoopers

The Ogun State command of the Nigeria Police Force has responded to the tragic fuel tanker explosion in Ore, Ondo State on Sunday, July 23, 2023, which claimed the lives of a pregnant woman and fourteen others.

According to reports, the fuel-laden tanker crashed in Ore, and residents quickly gathered at the scene to scoop spilled petrol. In the aftermath, a fire broke out, resulting in the loss of lives and severe injuries.

The police command’s spokesperson, Fumilayo Odunlami-Omisanya, referred to the victims as “fuel scoopers” and confirmed that an investigation into the incident is underway.

Eyewitnesses recounted the devastating scene, stating that the ignited fuel on the road was triggered by a spark from a mobile phone used by one of the citizens involved in the scooping. The incident occurred along Showboy Road, near a filling station in the area.

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Tragically, 15 people were confirmed dead in the explosion, including three children and a pregnant woman, alongside other adults. The tragedy has left the community in mourning as efforts were made to extinguish the raging fire.

Witnesses, including an Okada rider named John, expressed the heartbreaking nature of the event, with victims being roasted to death in the devastating fire. Reports indicate that the victims’ bodies were counted after the incident, and the loss of lives, especially those of innocent children and a pregnant woman, has deeply affected the community.