It was a scene of wild rush and survival. When a tanker carrying thousands of litres of red oil overturned along the Calabar-Odukpani highway, the residents of Njagachang Community didn’t see danger—they saw a blessing. In minutes, the road and nearby river turned red, and so did the people scrambling for the free-flowing oil.
On July 30, 2026, a tanker carrying a heavy load of palm oil reportedly fell along a major road in the Njagachang Community, Cross River State. The impact of the crash caused the tanker’s contents to gush out, spilling across the asphalt and into the adjoining river.
News of the spill spread like wildfire through the community. Men, women, and children rushed to the scene with buckets, plastic containers, and jerrycans. Some waded into the river to scoop the oil directly from the water, while others collected it from the road.
Officials are yet to release an official statement on the cause of the accident, and no casualties have been immediately reported. However, environmental experts have raised concerns about the long-term impact of the spill on the water body and surrounding ecosystem.
