Tanker fire in Odukpani kills one and injures others as emergency teams secure scene

At least one person has died and another has suffered serious injuries after a petroleum tanker overturned and caught fire near the Odukpani Local Government Secretariat in Cross River State, according to the state police command as reported by Premium Times and Punch Nigeria. The tanker was carrying petroleum products when it was involved in a road crash and overturned, triggering a fire that spread to surrounding shops, buildings and vehicles. Channels Television reported that the tanker was carrying diesel and had collided with a stationary truck before overturning.

The other reports did not specify the type of petroleum product or describe the stationary truck. The incident occurred on Sunday, October 4, according to the reports, although Punch described it as occurring on Saturday, October 4. The available accounts agree that the crash happened in the vicinity of the local government secretariat and that the fire affected commercial property around the road.

Police spokesman Sunday Eitokpah said officers from the Odukpani Division were sent to secure the area, protect the public and prevent additional harm. The police initially said that no death had been confirmed, while reporting damage to shops and vehicles and saying the tanker driver had been rescued. In a later update, Eitokpah confirmed one death and said another person had sustained serious injuries and was receiving medical treatment.

The identities of those affected were not immediately released. The driver, who was reportedly trapped in the burning tanker, was rescued and taken to hospital. Channels Television gave a higher toll, reporting two deaths and two critically injured people.

It also said the Cross River State Fire Service responded and that fire-fighting efforts continued as officials worked to contain the blaze. The difference in casualty figures was not explained in the supplied reports. The Director-General of the Cross River State Emergency Management Agency, Efa Nyong, led a joint assessment team from CR-SEMA and the Nigerian Red Cross Society to the scene, according to Channels.

Odukpani council chairman Etim Asido briefed the team and took officials through the affected areas. Nyong expressed sympathy to victims’ families and affected traders, while saying authorities would assess the damage and consider interventions. Police and emergency officials urged residents, traders and motorists to stay away from the immediate area and allow responders unhindered access.

Premium Times placed the incident within a wider pattern of fire emergencies in Cross River, citing the state fire service’s report of 17 incidents between January and September 2026, with estimated property losses of N2.5 billion and six injuries. That report also included a tanker spill among the recorded incidents.