I want another tanker, not national honour — Delta man who drove burning fuel truck to avert tragedy

46-year-old Delta-based tanker driver, Ejiro Otarigho, who drove a burning petrol-laden tanker from Agharho town in Ughelli North, Delta State, to the bank of Agbarho River to avert an explosion which would have killed thousands of people in that community has stated he has been working as a tanker driver since 2010 and he had gone to load his tanker with petrol (Premium Motor Spirit) for supply and was headed out on the day his tanker caught fire.

Otarigho in an interview stated that “When I got to the Five Junctions area, my apprentice drew my attention to a flame that had erupted from the back of the tanker. He just started shouting, “Oga, see fire. See fire!”  I checked through the side mirror and saw that the tanker was really on fire and it was burning fast. I thought about it for a quick second and decided that he should jump off the tanker and let me battle this (the fire) alone. I felt relieved and it didn’t even matter that I lost my tanker to the incident. I was fulfilled. Even though my tanker got burnt, no one was killed; no property was lost. It was risky but I had to do it for the greater good.

The driver, who said the tanker doesn’t belong to him, said his wife was not happy with his action and he had to apologise and explain things to her, adding that “I just got married months ago and my wife is due to be delivered of a baby soon. When she saw the video and was told I was the one inside, she said she almost fainted. When I saw her, she said I didn’t put her and our unborn baby into consideration. It was a war trying to convince her that all I did was for the greater good. It was not just me; it was the situation I found myself in at that time that made me take that decision. I was not born here but this place is my community. I am a well-known person in the town. I didn’t want anyone to say, “Na Ejiro tanker kill people the other day.” I didn’t want that for myself. She later understood.”

According to him, he had never been involved in a road accident and “it was such a surprise to me. I cannot say what actually was responsible. I filled the tanker as I always did and left for the place where it would be supplied.”

He added that he had received calls from the government but “I am not interested in any national honour of any sort right now. I know God has brought me to a good place where my story is now being told. All I want is a replacement for my burnt tanker so I can go back to my job. I have just been at home and truck driving was the only way I fed. It has not been easy for me since I lost my tanker. (Story adapted from The PUNCH)