Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, has blamed the proprietor of a petroleum tanker for the hearth incident that burnt a number of individuals and destroyed items value tens of millions of naira in Oluku, Ovia North-East Local Government Area of the state.
DAILY POST studies that the incident occurred on Thursday afternoon, October 15, 2026.
Okpebholo, who visited the scene of the incident on Friday, October 16, 2026, blamed the tanker proprietor for bringing one other tanker to switch the gasoline with out taking the mandatory security precautions.
The governor, who expressed unhappiness over the incident, added that the catastrophe might have been averted if residents had stayed away from the scene of the hearth involving petroleum merchandise.
He, nonetheless, assured merchants at Oluku Market and others affected by the hearth that his administration wouldn’t abandon them.
He promised to rebuild the market, which was destroyed by the hearth, and help merchants who misplaced their retailers and items within the incident.
“We are sorry. We, as human beings, also needs to take precautions every time one thing like this occurs. Before the explosion, individuals had been scooping gasoline.
“But the state and federal governments have spent a lot of money on advertisements to educate the public to stay away from such disasters, but people won’t listen,” he acknowledged.
Okpebholo, who disclosed that he had spoken with the First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, concerning the incident, famous that she expressed unhappiness and sympathy with the victims and the households of those that misplaced their lives.
The governor additionally visited the Burns and Plastic Surgery Ward of the Accident and Emergency Department of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), the place among the victims had been receiving remedy.
Addressing the victims’ mother and father on the hospital, the governor reiterated the necessity for residents to heed security warnings on the risks of scooping gasoline.
He reaffirmed his administration’s dedication to rebuilding the market and serving to the affected merchants get better their livelihoods.
Earlier, the market secretary, Blessing Itoje, appealed to the governor and his entourage for help, saying the merchants couldn’t salvage any of their items earlier than the hearth destroyed their retailers and wares.
“We couldn’t even choose something; every thing burnt to ashes. Some of us are widows, and we use our meagre earnings to look after our households.
“Some of the traders were admitted to hospital due to the shock; some are on oxygen. Please, our father, some of us are servicing loans as I speak,” she acknowledged.
Another dealer, Julie Ologbosere, additionally appealed to the governor for help, saying the merchants had been left with nothing.
