The petroleum tanker involved in the accident in which Julius Berger driver, Aminu Dakatsalle was burnt to death
Several houses, including a worship centre, were on Thursday evening, gutted by fire at Owan community in Ovia South West local government area, near Benin, Edo State.
Eyewitnesses told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the incident was caused by a petroleum-laden tanker which fell and spilled its content, bursting into flames and consuming buildings and shops including a church along the Benin-Akure axis of the community.
An eyewitness, Mr Mathew Fapohunda, told NAN in a telephone interview that “the incident happened between 4 pm and 5 pm on Thursday.
“A tanker carrying petroleum product from Benin heading towards Akure fell into a gutter and burst into flames.
“We were helpless but we quickly contacted the Okomu oil palm company which sent their firefighter truck.
“Though they put out the fire but not before several houses, shops and a church along the road have been completely razed by the fire, consuming everything inside them worth millions of Naira.”
Fapohunda, who is one of the community leaders in Owan, however, said no human casualty was recorded in the incident.
The FRSC sector commander in Edo, Mr Henry Benamaisia, when contacted, said the command was yet to be briefed on the incident.
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