Chaos and danger converged on the Tincan–Liverpool Bridge in Apapa after a diesel tanker overturned and began leaking its contents, prompting the Lagos State Government to issue an urgent warning to residents and motorists.

The incident occurred on the busy bridge corridor inward Mile 2, a critical link for port-bound and outbound traffic. The fallen tanker, fully loaded with diesel, toppled across a section of the bridge, spilling fuel onto the road surface and immediately triggering fears of a potential fire or explosion.

The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency confirmed that the tanker was leaking and that a coordinated emergency response had been activated. In a situation report signed by the agency’s Permanent Secretary, Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, officials said all relevant responders had been deployed to the scene to contain the spill and secure the area.

“Our attention has been brought to a fallen tanker at the above location, which is leaking fuel. All emergency responders have been activated and are en route to the location,” the statement read, underscoring the urgency of the situation.

Despite the obvious danger, videos circulating on social media showed clusters of residents and passersby rushing toward the fallen tanker with containers, scooping diesel from pools forming on the bridge. Some were seen bending dangerously close to the tanker’s damaged tank, while others moved between vehicles in the resulting traffic gridlock, apparently unconcerned about the risk of ignition.

This behaviour prompted a stern public safety warning from LASEMA, which cautioned residents against turning the accident scene into an opportunity for fuel scavenging. The agency stressed that such actions could trigger a catastrophic fire, endangering not only those scooping fuel but also motorists, emergency workers and nearby communities.

“Members of the public are urged to exercise EXTREME CAUTION to avoid any secondary incident from scooping product or lighting any flame near the area,” LASEMA warned, using capital letters to emphasise the gravity of the threat.

Authorities noted that even a small spark from a vehicle exhaust, a cigarette, a phone battery malfunction or static electricity could ignite the highly flammable diesel vapour lingering around the spill. In similar incidents across Nigeria in recent years, fuel scooping has led to mass casualties, with tankers exploding after crowds gathered to collect leaking petrol or diesel.