By Abimbola Ogunnaike
The commercial town of Ore, Odigbo Local Government Area of Ondo State was on the evening of Sunday, 23 July, 2023 thrown into mourning mood as a tanker explosion claimed 15 lives including a pregnant woman and three children in the community.
It was gathered that residents of the area had besieged the scene of a crash to scoop petrol from a truck when the incident occurred.
Eyewitnesses recounted that the fuel, which had spilled onto the road, was ignited by a spark emanating from a mobile phone held by one of the individuals involved in the fuel scooping.
The incident occurred along Showboy road, near a filling station in the area.
John, an okada rider in the vicinity, who gave harrowing details of the tragedy, disclosed that the inferno claimed the lives of over 15 individuals.
According to him, the victims who were roasted to death include three children and a pregnant woman.
“After the truck crashed, people began to rush to the scene to scoop fuel. It was in the process that the truck exploded.
“Three children died, and we have counted over 15 bodies. A pregnant woman who wanted to buy fuel also died,” he disclosed.
The spokesperson of the police in the state, Fumilayo Odunlami-Omisanya, confirmed the incident and described the victims as fuel scoopers.
According to him, the victims who were roasted to death include three children and a pregnant woman.
“After the truck crashed, people began to rush to the scene to scoop fuel. It was in the process that the truck exploded.
“Three children died, and we have counted over 15 bodies. A pregnant woman who wanted to buy fuel also died,” he disclosed.
