Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo has promised to rebuild Oluku Market and support traders who lost their shops and goods in a recent fire. He made the commitment on Friday after inspecting the damage at the market along the Benin-Lagos Road in Ovia North-East Local Government Area.

The governor expressed sadness over the incident and said it could have been avoided. He assured the affected traders that his administration would not abandon them and noted that First Lady Oluremi Tinubu had also expressed sympathy for the victims and the families of those who lost their lives.

Okpebholo advised residents to stay away from scenes of fire disasters involving petrol to avoid further casualties. He said people had been scooping fuel before the explosion, despite repeated public education campaigns by state and federal authorities warning against such behaviour.

The governor also criticised the owner of the tanker involved for bringing another vehicle to transfer the fuel without following proper safety measures. He said this action contributed to the fire that destroyed the market.

Okpebholo later visited the burns ward at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, where some victims were receiving treatment. Market leaders appealed for urgent help, explaining that many traders, including widows, had lost everything and were struggling with loans and medical costs. The governor reaffirmed his commitment to restoring the market and helping the traders recover.