Pix: Dr Ahmed Abubakar Audi, Commandant General, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps

In a race against potential disaster, operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) are working tirelessly to disperse a crowd of youths scooping fuel from an overturned tanker at Mile 6 Market in Jalingo, the capital of Taraba State.

The tanker accident occurred around 11:45 a.m. at the Mile 6 Roundabout near the bustling market, drawing a large number of youths armed with cans and buckets to collect leaking fuel despite the evident danger.

Some individuals, as noticed by our state correspondent, even went as far as positioning large drums near the tanker in an attempt to store the fuel before security personnel eventually intervened.

The accident comes on the heels of several recent tanker explosions in Niger State that claimed multiple lives.

Determined to prevent a similar catastrophe, NSCDC officers, at the time of filing this report, have moved swiftly to secure the scene and prevent further reckless behaviour.

Market traders, fearing a potential explosion, quickly shut down their shops and fled the area.

Many youths, however, ignored the danger, taking advantage of the situation to collect fuel before security operatives arrived.

Speaking to The Guardian, the spokesperson for the NSCDC Taraba State Command, Illia Samuel, confirmed the incident and outlined the Corps’ response.

“Immediately we received the report, our personnel were deployed to the site to prevent any incident that could result in casualties,” he said. “Our priority is the safety of residents and travellers in the area.”

Despite the efforts of the NSCDC, many individuals managed to make off with substantial quantities of fuel before being dispersed.

Authorities have since cordoned off the area to ensure no further hazards arise from the spill.

As of the time of this report, security operatives remain on-site, ensuring the area is secure while urging the public to avoid the scene for their safety.