A tanker carrying diesel collapsed weekend along the notorious Ikpoba Slope in Benin City, spilling its contents across the roadway and prompting hundreds of residents to rush to the scene with containers to collect the leaked product.
The incident occurred on the steep gradient of Ikpoba Slope, a section of road known for heavy vehicular traffic and challenging terrain for large trucks.
Eyewitnesses say that the tanker, fully loaded with diesel, lost control and overturned while navigating the slope.
Within minutes of the accident, word spread throughout nearby communities, drawing crowds of residents armed with jerry cans, buckets, and various containers.
Despite the inherent dangers, people scooped the diesel directly from the road surface and drainage channels where the fuel has collected.
“I heard about it from my neighbor and rushed here with these containers,” said one female resident who declined to give her name. “Fuel is expensive these days, so this is a blessing for us.”
The scene had raised serious safety concerns among authorities, as diesel fumes pose significant fire hazards, especially with the large number of people gathered at the site.
However the scene was later cleared safely and there was no casualties recorded.
