One Dead, Another Injured as Petrol Tanker Crashes in Cross River

One person has died while another sustained serious injuries after a petrol tanker crashed, overturned and caught fire in Odukpani Local Government Area of Cross River State.

The incident occurred opposite the Odukpani Local Government Secretariat on Sunday, October 4, 2026, when the tanker conveying petroleum products was involved in a road accident.

According to the Cross River State Police Command, the tanker overturned following the crash and immediately caught fire. The inferno later spread to nearby shops and buildings, causing further damage in the area.

The police said officers from the Odukpani Division were deployed to the scene to secure the area and protect members of the public from further danger.

The driver of the tanker was reportedly caught in the fire but was rescued and taken to a hospital for medical treatment.

The command also alerted the Fire Service to deploy personnel and equipment to contain the flames and prevent the fire from spreading further.

An initial police statement said no death had been confirmed at the time, with reports indicating that shops and vehicles around the scene had been affected.

However, the command later issued an update confirming that one person had died in the inferno, while another person sustained serious injuries and was receiving medical attention.

The identity of the deceased and the injured person had not been made public as of the time of the latest update.

The police urged residents and motorists to stay away from the immediate area to allow emergency responders to work without obstruction.

Members of the public were also advised not to approach the tanker or attempt to scoop petroleum products from the scene because of the risk of further fire or explosion.

The cause of the crash was not immediately disclosed by the authorities.

The incident has once again raised concerns about the dangers posed by petroleum tanker accidents on Nigerian roads, particularly when crashes occur close to populated areas.

The police said further information would be released as the situation develops and urged residents to cooperate with security and emergency personnel at the scene.