A deadly road traffic accident involving a fuel-laden tanker has claimed the lives of two people and left sixteen others injured in Jos, a major city in Plateau State, North-Central Nigeria.
The crash occurred on Sunday, 28 December 2025, near St. Louis College, Jos, an educational institution located close to the Polo Field Club Roundabout, a busy traffic corridor within the city. Jos is the capital of Plateau State and a key urban centre in Nigeria’s Middle Belt region.
Eyewitnesses at the scene reported that the tanker experienced brake failure shortly after passing the Plateau State Specialist Hospital Roundabout, causing the heavy vehicle to descend uncontrollably before crashing into multiple vehicles along the route.
Confirming the incident on Monday, 29 December 2025, the Federal Road Safety Corps, Nigeria’s lead government agency responsible for road traffic administration and safety management, said emergency responders were immediately deployed to the scene.
The Public Education Officer of the Federal Road Safety Corps in Plateau State, Peter Longsan, explained that victims of the crash were swiftly evacuated for medical care, while the deceased were transferred to a hospital mortuary.
Providing further details in an official statement released after the rescue operation, Longsan said:
“As people are still basking in the spirit of the yuletide, Federal Road Safety Corps Officers and Men are busy on the road to ensure safe movement of road users.
Another road traffic crash occurred around St. Louis College near the Polo Field Club Roundabout on 28th December 2025 involving a laden tanker and five other vehicles. The crash was reported to the Federal Road Safety Corps at about 1849 hours (6:49 pm) who immediately went for the rescue.
18 people were involved, 2 male adults died on the spot, 16 others who suffered various degrees of injury were taken to Plateau State Specialist Hospital and Bingham University Teaching Hospital. The corpses of the deceased were deposited at Bingham University Teaching Hospital.”
According to eyewitness accounts cited by the Federal Road Safety Corps, the tanker lost braking control immediately after the hospital roundabout and continued downhill until it collided with several vehicles and came to rest.
Okay News reports that multiple security and emergency agencies were mobilised to prevent further disaster, especially given the high fire risk associated with petroleum products.
Longsan added:
“In order to avert conflagration, sister agencies mobilised themselves and put hands on deck, cordoned the vicinity, and diverted traffic to ensure the safety of road users. The effort was also to bar economic saboteurs from making any attempt to loot.
Thankfully there was no spillage of the content of the tanker, as the risk of fire outbreak became low.”
Agencies present at the scene included the Nigerian Police Force, the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, Operation Rainbow, the Vigilante Group of Nigeria, the Nigerian Army, the Federal Fire Service, Vehicle Inspection Officers, and the Nigerian Red Cross Society.
Authorities confirmed that the petroleum product was safely transferred to another tanker, all damaged vehicles were removed, and the road was fully cleared after operations extended into the early hours of Monday.
The Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps in Plateau State, Olajide E. Mogaji, commended the cooperation of residents and the coordinated response among agencies, stressing that road safety requires collective responsibility.
He urged Nigerians to remain vigilant on the roads, avoid distractions, and promptly report emergencies through the Federal Road Safety Corps toll-free number 122, particularly as travel activities increase during the festive season and the New Year.
