Petrol tanker explosions have become a frequent occurrence on Nigerian highways, depositing trails of blood and bouts of sorrow in many families.

On Sunday, news broke that a fuel-laden tanker went up in flames on the Warri-Benin federal highway, resulting in the death of not less than 20 people.

It is worth noting that this particular incident is not the first or second in recent years. There have been many of such life-claiming incidents on the same expressway, and with far-reaching impact on people’s lives and the environment.

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Evidently, the road became a dreadful route for travellers because it had always not been in good condition. This ultimately led to an increase in the number of accidents recorded along the route.

BREAKING NEWS!!!
Tanker Explosion Claim over 20 lives along Warri – Benin Highway. pic.twitter.com/1qFE6fKZgr

— NTA News (@NTANewsNow) October 1, 2023

In August, Sheriff Oborevwori, Delta State governor, lamented the poor state of the road and attributed the failure to fix it to the federal government.

Godwin Obaseki, Edo State governor, had also erected a signpost on a section of the road announcing to the traveling public that the road “belonged to the federal government”.

Here are some of the deadly tanker explosions that have claimed lives on the expressway.

APRIL 2013 INCIDENT CLAIMED 70 LIVES

In April 2013, a diesel tanker had a collision with a trailer and a passenger vehicle on the road, resulting in the death of 70 people.

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An eyewitness interviewed by journalists mentioned that firefighters were not available and bystanders helplessly watched the victims groan to death in the explosion.

“We just heard a sound and flames of fire followed it. Before we came out, we saw that people were burning and vehicles were burning. There was nothing we could do. The people were here. There was no fire service around. So, we watched all those people burnt and died helplessly. Nobody to help them and nobody to rescue them. For more than five hours, the vehicles were burning,” said the eyewitness.

SCORES FEARED DEAD IN JULY 2020

On July 22, 2020, more than 20 persons got burnt alive after a tanker exploded on the road. Tragedy struck when the tanker fell on its side, bursting into flames.

The raging fire burnt the victims beyond recognition around Koko Junction on the busy road.

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Apart from the deaths recorded, no fewer than 10 vehicles were also burnt. The victims were said to be occupants of the vehicles plying the route when the explosion occurred.

SCORES DEAD IN SEPTEMBER 2020

On September 20, 2020, 28 people died in a tanker explosion that happened along the expressway.

According to eyewitnesses, the tanker had collided into five cars, two motorcycles and three tricycles, killing scores of people in the process. People familiar with the exact spot where the incident occurred subsequently labelled it a “death trap”.

2021 INCIDENT THAT DID NOT RESULT IN LOSS OF LIVES

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There was yet another life-threatening accident on the Warri-Benin expressway on September 18, 2021. At the time, a tanker had emptied its inflammable content on the road.

Some residents reportedly converged at the spot to scoop fuel, but the spillage did not result in an explosion.

Two tankers had fallen while trying to avoid a damaged portion of the road.