Twenty people were brutally burned on Sunday in Ore, Odigbo Local Government Area, Ondo State.
The victims were said to be collecting fuel from a fuel truck when it fell and poured its contents on Sunday along the Benin-Ore-Sagamu Expressway.
An eyewitness claims that the spark from a phone being held by one of the people collecting fuel started the fire, News About Nigeria reports.
According to the eyewitness, among those killed in the accident were three children and a pregnant woman who had brought N100,000 to the area to buy petrol.
He also said, “We were inside the church when the tanker fell and spilled its contents on the road. Shortly after it fell and spilled the fuel on the road, some people rushed to the place to scoop up the fuel.
“At that time, the rain was falling. Despite that, people still rushed there and started scooping fuel when the fire started after a spark from a phone.
“At the scene, we have counted about three children and over 15 bodies we can’t identify, and a pregnant woman who wanted to buy fuel also died in the incident. They were burned beyond recognition.”
Mrs. Funmilayo Odunlami, the state police public relations officer, confirmed the event and identified the victims as fuel scoopers, and also warned people of such accidents and should refrain from them.
“They were scooping fuel from a tanker when the fire started. We have commenced an investigation into the matter,” the PPRO stated.
