A tanker vehicle on Sunday night lost control due to brake failure near the Polo Club Roundabout in Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State, ramming into several parked vehicles and causing multiple casualties.
An eyewitness in the area initially reported that at least six people died and about five others sustained serious injuries, adding that the truck driver and his conductor were among those who died instantly. The witness said the affected vehicles were damaged beyond repair and later towed, alongside the tanker, to the “A” Division Police Station. He also claimed the tanker belonged to Jingri Filling Station, Jos, and that property worth millions of naira was destroyed.
According to the eyewitness, the conductor had shouted warnings of “brake failure” to alert passersby and motorists moments before the crash.
However, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Plateau State gave a different account of the incident. The Public Education Officer, Superintendent Route Commander Peter Longsan, said 18 people were involved in the crash, with two adult males confirmed dead on the spot. He said 16 others sustained varying degrees of injuries and were taken to the Plateau State Specialist Hospital and Bingham University Teaching Hospital (BUTH), where the corpses of the deceased were deposited.
Longsan explained that the tanker lost its brakes shortly after the Plateau State Specialist Hospital Roundabout and continued descending until it eventually crashed and came to rest on parked vehicles.
He said security and emergency agencies promptly cordoned off the area and diverted traffic to prevent further danger and forestall looting. He added that there was no spillage of petroleum products, significantly reducing the risk of fire, and that the tanker’s contents were safely transloaded.
Agencies at the scene included the FRSC, Nigeria Police, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, Operation Rainbow, Vigilante Group of Nigeria, the Nigerian Army, Federal Fire Service, Vehicle Inspection Officers, and the Nigerian Red Cross Society.
“All vehicles involved were removed and obstructions cleared, with operations lasting into midnight. As of this morning, the road is clear and traffic has resumed,” Longsan said.
He said the FRSC Sector Commander, Olajide E. Mogaji, commended the inter-agency collaboration and community cooperation that ensured a successful operation. Longsan urged road users to report emergencies via the FRSC toll-free number 122 and advised motorists to remain cautious and responsible on the roads, especially during the festive period and into the New Year.
