A petrol-laden tanker overturned on the Tincan Liverpool Bridge in the Apapa area of Lagos on Monday, sparking panic and a dangerous rush as residents and passersby scooped fuel from the fallen vehicle.
Eyewitnesses said the tanker tipped over in the early hours of the day, around rush hour, spilling its contents beneath the bridge and causing traffic disruption in the area.
As of the time of reporting, officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority and other emergency responders were yet to arrive at the scene to cordon off the area.
Footage showed dozens of people armed with jerrycans, buckets and other containers scrambling to collect petrol leaking from the tanker.
Despite the obvious fire risk, residents were seen positioning containers directly under the overturned vehicle, while others waded through the spilled fuel to secure their share.
The situation raised fears of a possible explosion, given the highly flammable nature of petrol and the presence of vehicles and open flames in nearby areas.