A diesel‑laden tanker overturned on the Tincan‑Liverpool Bridge in Apapa, Lagos State, on Monday morning.
Gatekeepers News reports that it prompted a dangerous rush by residents and passersby to scoop the spilled fuel from beneath the vehicle before emergency crews secured the scene.
Eyewitnesses said the tanker fell during morning rush hour, spilling diesel across the busy corridor and causing traffic disruption along the inward Mile 2 route.
Video footage circulating on social media showed people with jerrycans and containers collecting the highly combustible product from under the overturned tanker despite warnings about the risk.
Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) confirmed that the tanker was loaded with diesel and that fuel was spreading on the bridge due to damage to the tank. Security agencies, including the Nigeria Police Force from Area B Division, were notified and moved to the scene.
Emergency responders, including Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, were deployed to neutralise the spilled diesel and prevent a potential fire outbreak.
The affected section of the bridge was temporarily cordoned off, and traffic was diverted to the opposite carriageway while containment efforts continued.
Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) issued a safety alert, warning the public against approaching the accident site or attempting to scoop fuel, stressing that such actions carry a high risk of fire or explosion. Motorists were advised to take alternative routes as the disaster response plan was activated.
LASTMA later said the road had been reopened after the spilled diesel was neutralised, and officials awaited a tow truck to remove the overturned tanker and restore normal traffic flow.
Fuel scooping from accidents is extremely dangerous and has previously led to deadly explosions in many parts of the country.
