Pandemonium as twenty persons, including a pregnant woman, and children were roasted to death on Sunday following a tanker explosion at the popular Koko junction on the Benin-Sapele Road.
The fatal accident which occurred at about 12.15 am was said to have been as a result of a spark from a vehicle which reportedly ignited the fuel that had spilled from an overturned tanker on the expressway.
The high death toll was said to have been due to the action of local scavengers who were collecting spilled petrol from the ill-fated vehicle, ignoring several warnings from drivers and security personnel about the implications.
It was learnt that the scavengers who were mostly youths were fetching the fuel using different types of containers when the vehicle suddenly exploded and torched them.
According to an eye witness, “We tried to prevent them but the youths threatened to beat us up. They told us to keep off as it’s their community and could do whatever they wanted with the petrol tanker. They came in their numbers carrying all sorts of containers and when the explosion happened around 12:15 am this morning we all fled from the scene.
“There were several dead bodies on the ground. Some of them ran into the forest. I personally counted over 20 bodies. I am sure the death toll will be higher.”