Panic gripped Calabar on Saturday as dozens of residents defied a torrential downpour to dangerously scoop petrol from a fallen fuel tanker, raising fears of a potential explosion and tragedy.
The incident occurred around the Parliamentary Extension by Northwest Filling Station, where a truck transporting Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) from the Calabar depot lost control and overturned. Despite the rainfall and obvious risk of fire, locals rushed to the scene with buckets, basins, and makeshift containers to collect the leaking fuel.
Security operatives from the Nigeria Police and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) had to intervene to disperse the crowd and prevent what could have been a deadly disaster. Their timely response averted a repeat of past tragedies involving fuel scooping.
Eyewitnesses reported that the tanker, which had been en route from the Murtala Mohammed Highway through Lemma Road, was headed to the tanker park near Northwest to rest overnight before delivering the product. However, the driver reportedly lost control while descending a hill shortly after the entrance to Canaan City FM, causing the vehicle to skid and crash, spilling its entire content onto the road.
Read also:
- NEMA sensitises stakeholders on prevention of tanker fire outbreaks
- FG bans 60,000-litre fuel tankers from Nigerian roads
- House of Reps presents N18m Cheque to victims of Enugu Tanker explosion
According to sources, the tanker was scheduled to continue its journey for fuel dispatch early Sunday morning. The accident drew scores of residents who ignored the risk of fire outbreak despite similar past incidents.
It will be recalled that a similar tragedy struck at Odukpani Junction where numerous people were burnt beyond recognition while attempting to scoop petrol from a crashed fuel-laden truck. That incident remains one of the deadliest fuel-related disasters in Cross River State’s history.
Saturday’s chaos has once again reignited concerns about safety awareness and emergency response preparedness in the state, especially during fuel transportation accidents. Authorities are now calling for stricter enforcement and public sensitization to prevent another avoidable catastrophe.
