At least 35 people have been confirmed killed in the Benin side of the Nigeria-Benin border as a fuel depot allegedly used for smuggled product caught fire and erupted into flames.
The tragic event occurred in the town of Seme-Podji, situated near the border with Nigeria, where locals often frequented a warehouse for smuggled fuel.
According to Prosecutor, Abdoubaki Adam-Bongle, initial assessments indicate that the fire claimed the lives of 35 individuals, including one child. It is suspected that the fire started during the unloading of gasoline bags. More than a dozen others sustained severe injuries and are currently receiving medical treatment.
Video footage of the inferno circulated on social media which has been verified, shows a towering plume of black smoke and flames engulfing what appears to be a marketplace. Onlookers watched in shock from a safe distance as the tragedy unfolded.
Benin’s Interior Minister, Alassane Seidou, attributed the fire to smuggled fuel, emphasising the severely charred condition of the victims’ remains. Along the Benin-Nigeria border, fuel smuggling is a common occurrence, with illegal refineries, fuel depots, and pipelines proliferating in border towns, at times leading to disastrous fires.
Local residents shared their accounts of the incident, with one bike driver, Semevo Nounagnon, indicating that a substantial gasoline warehouse was nearby, attracting vehicles and motorbikes throughout the day. The incident left many shaken, as they heard cries for help, but were unable to approach due to the intensity of the flames.
An investigation to determine the cause of the fire has been initiated by the Benin justice ministry. This tragic event serves as a stark reminder of the risks and consequences associated with fuel smuggling activities.
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