Residents Rush to Scoop Groundnut Oil After Tanker Overturns in Niger
Residents of Bida, Niger State, rushed to collect groundnut oil after a tanker overturned near the Shafa filling station in the Esso area. The incident occurred around 9:00 a.m., and while there were no immediate reports of casualties, the scene quickly attracted dozens of people who scrambled to gather the spilled oil using jerry cans and buckets. This incident comes just days after a tragic tanker explosion in Suleja Local Government Area claimed 98 lives.
While initial reports suggested that the tanker was carrying fuel, a community source clarified that the spilled substance was actually groundnut oil. The proximity of the incident to a filling station may have caused confusion, with many residents mistaking the oil for fuel. Despite the risks involved in being near an overturned tanker, people continued to collect the oil.
The Niger Police Command Spokesman, Wasiu Abiodun, has yet to confirm the incident. However, local sources have provided details, and the scene was described as chaotic with residents eager to seize the opportunity to collect the oil, despite the dangers associated with being near an overturned tanker.
The incident follows a directive from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Sunday, urging the National Orientation Agency (NOA) to launch a nationwide awareness campaign. The campaign aims to educate Nigerians on the dangers of scooping fuel from overturned tankers, an issue that has led to multiple accidents and fatalities in the past.
