Residents were seen scooping diesel into jerry cans, plates and other containers after a tanker carrying 24,000 litres of diesel overturned on the Nnamdi Azikiwe Bypass Expressway in Kaduna on Saturday morning.
The tanker reportedly lost control while attempting to manoeuvre around a Toyota Hilux before falling on the expressway.
No fatalities were reported in the incident, although diesel began spilling from the tanker after its cover was removed following the crash.
The spillage attracted residents from the surrounding community, some of whom rushed to collect the fuel despite the potential danger.
Speaking to newsmen, 25-year-old Ruth Baba, a student of Kaduna State University, said she was collecting the diesel to raise money towards her university fees.
“I have nobody to assist paying my school fees, since the death of my parents. This is an opportunity for me to labour for my school fees,” she said.
Another resident, 45-year-old Josee Bande, said he was collecting the diesel because he was struggling to feed his family and pay his rent.
“I have nothing to eat because I don’t have the money. My family is hungry. With what I was able to scoop, I can pay my rent and buy food for my family,” he said.
The tanker driver was reportedly in a stable condition after the accident.
Efforts to obtain a comment from the Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Commission, Kaduna Sector Command, were unsuccessful. He reportedly neither answered calls nor responded to a text message sent to him.
