By Warefa Pereke.
Warri, December 29, 2025 – A dramatic fire at the Burutu Speedboat Loading Jetty along Market Road in Warri turned a routine loading operation into a potential catastrophe, only to be thwarted by the quick action of locals.
The incident unfolded when a speedboat owned by a vibrant young entrepreneur, Ezekiel Malabi, loaded with four drums of fuel, erupted in flames. Eyewitnesses reported that the blaze, caused by a spark from the battery connection, started suddenly during the hot afternoon of Monday 29 December, 2025. It spreads rapidly, engulfing the boat in thick black smoke and roaring fire.
The boat, a lifeline for traders ferrying goods across the river, burned fiercely for over an hour despite frantic efforts.Ijaw youths from the community rallied in a desperate rescue operation, battling the inferno with whatever tools were at hand.
Amid the chaos, Ogogorofie, a seasoned speedboat operator who plies the Burutu waterside, emerged as the undisputed hero. Risking his own life, he bravely maneuvered to the burning boat and held it steady in the middle of the river, preventing it from drifting toward the crowded jetty. “If not for Ogogorofie’s courage, the fire would have leaped to the market stalls, wooden stores, and shops lining the waterfront,” said miss Ebizimor Zibabo, a trader who witnessed the scene. “It could have wiped out the entire area, which would have been a terrible way to usher in 2026.
“By the time the flames were fully quenched, the speedboat had been reduced to charred ashes floating in the river. No lives were lost, but several persons sustained injuries. Thanks to the community’s swift response.
Ezekiel Malabi, though devastated by the loss of his boat and cargo, expressed gratitude to his rescuers, calling Ogogorofie “a brother who saved our livelihoods.”
Local fire authorities came on ground to fight the fire, but could not have access to the waterfront. This incident underscores the risks faced daily by water transport operators in Delta State’s bustling riverine communities, where flammable cargoes like fuel drums are commonplace.
The Ezon Efie Media hereby call on the Delta State Government,the Maritime Authorities to take swift Acton and stop any illegal loading of petroleum products through crowded public jetties. Boat operators are advised to patronise floating fuel stations in the river for purchase of fuel instead of using drums to buy from upland fuel stations.
As Burutu residents breathe a sigh of relief heading into the new year, Ogogorofie’s bravery stands as a beacon of community spirit. “We are stronger together,” he told Ezon Efie Media reporters humbly after the rescue. “No one should start 2026 in ashes,” he said.
