Two persons died while 16 others sustained varying degrees of injuries on Sunday evening following a fuel tanker crash in Jos, the Plateau State capital.
The accident occurred near St. Louis College, close to the Polo Field Club Roundabout, when a fully loaded tanker reportedly lost its brakes and crashed into several vehicles along the route.
Eyewitnesses said the tanker developed brake failure shortly after the Plateau State Specialist Hospital Roundabout and continued descending uncontrollably before colliding with five other vehicles, leading to instant deaths and multiple injuries.
Confirming the incident on Monday, the Public Education Officer of the Federal Road Safety Corps in Plateau State, Peter Longsan, said the injured victims were rushed to the Plateau State Specialist Hospital and Bingham University Teaching Hospital, while the corpses of the deceased were deposited at BUTH.
Giving details in a statement after the rescue operation, Longsan said, “Another road traffic crash occurred around St. Louis College near the Polo Field Club Roundabout on December 28, 2025, involving a laden tanker and five other vehicles. The crash was reported to the FRSC at about 6:49pm, and our officers immediately mobilised for rescue.”
He added, “Eighteen people were involved in the crash. Two male adults died on the spot, while 16 others sustained various degrees of injuries and were taken to Plateau State Specialist Hospital and Bingham University Teaching Hospital. The corpses of the deceased were deposited at BUTH.”
Longsan explained that officers of the FRSC, alongside other security and emergency agencies, swiftly cordoned off the area and diverted traffic to prevent further damage and possible fire outbreak.
“In order to avert conflagration, sister agencies mobilised and cordoned the vicinity, diverting traffic to ensure the safety of road users. The effort was also to prevent economic saboteurs from attempting to loot,” he said.
He noted that there was no spillage of the tanker’s content, which significantly reduced the risk of fire, adding that the petroleum product was later safely transloaded, while all vehicles involved were removed from the road.
Agencies present at the scene included the Nigerian Police, Nigerian Army, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, Federal Fire Service, Operation Rainbow, Vigilante Group of Nigeria, Vehicle Inspection Officers, and the Nigerian Red Cross Society.
The Sector Commander of the FRSC in Plateau State, Olajide E. Mogaji, commended the collaborative efforts of all agencies and the cooperation of the host community, stressing that road safety remains a collective responsibility.
He urged road users to promptly report emergencies through the FRSC toll-free number 122, while advising motorists to avoid distractions and drive defensively, especially during the festive season and in the New Year.
