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THE OLUKU MARKET TANKER TRAGEDY
Our society is gradually losing the ability to distinguish between danger and opportunity. What should ordinarily make us run for our lives has, sadly, become an opportunity for some people to risk everything in pursuit of immediate gain. The tragic petrol tanker explosion and fire incident at Oluku Market, Benin City, Edo State, on October 15, 2026, is a painful reminder of this disturbing reality.
The incident, reportedly triggered when a petrol tanker fell near the busy market, should compel us to reflect deeply on our attitude towards safety, human life and the desperate struggle for survival in our society. The question we must ask ourselves is this: Why should a disaster become an opportunity to some people?
When a petrol tanker falls and its contents begin to spill, the natural response should be to move away from the scene as quickly as possible. Yet, in our society today, some people see such a dangerous situation as an opportunity to collect fuel, ignoring the possibility of an explosion that could cost them their lives.
Should we call it ignorance, greed, desperation or a combination of all three? Whatever the explanation, the consequences can be devastating.
The painful truth is that we seem to have forgotten the lessons of previous tragedies, including the Jesse fuel explosion in Delta State many years ago. Such incidents should have taught us that spilled petrol is not a gift, and a fallen tanker is not an opportunity to become wealthy. It is a serious danger that demands immediate caution.
Unfortunately, the harsh economic realities facing many Nigerians have made survival increasingly difficult. Poverty, unemployment and the rising cost of living have pushed many people into desperate situations. However, no economic hardship should make us gamble with our lives. What is the value of collecting a few litres of fuel if the price could be one’s life?
Idris Rufai,
