Meet Nigerian 'hero' who drove a tanker on fire to safety

A Nigerian man Ejiro Otarigho who made history that turned him a "hero" in South-South region of Nigeria when he risked his life by driving a burning fuel tanker away from a densely populated suburban area in Warri, the capital city of Delta State has told AfricaVerge about the scary experience he had .

"'There was just one thought on my mind and that was to plunge the burning tanker into a river nearby'," Ejiro Otarigho said.

''My [assistant] was the one who alerted me to the fact that our tanker was on fire. It was a scary ball of fire," he continued.

Mr Ejiro stated that he had just offloaded some of the contents of the tanker and was heading to another location when tragedy struck.

Credit: Africaverge

On noticing the fire, he quickly told his assistant to get off and he sped off in the burning tanker amidst shrieks of fear and dismay from onlookers.

In what no doubt is a dangerous incident, any slight error of judgement from Mr Otarigho or, a sudden explosion, could have resulted in total disaster.

"My intention was to drive to the river. When I got there the car steering got stuck and I couldn't move any further.

"I said if I drive straight, the truck may fall and that may cause another problem. So I just have to park in the open space," he recounted.

Mr Otarigho finally got the tanker to safety and onlookers can be seen in one of the videos dragging him away. He is safe and sound except for some smoke inhalation and a few bruises.

This is not the first time tanker fire accidents is recorded in Nigeria. It has as a matter fact become a very common incident which in many cases result in loss of lives and properties.

Otarigho is a hero today because many people who would have been dead are still alive and properties also preserved.

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