A fuel tanker crash near St. Louis College, Jos, Plateau State, has left two people dead and 16 others injured.
The incident occurred on Sunday evening, with eyewitnesses saying the tanker lost its brakes after the Plateau State Specialist Hospital Roundabout and rammed into several vehicles, resulting in fatalities.
Confirming the crash, the public education officer of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Peter Longsan, said the injured victims were rushed to nearby hospitals, while the bodies of the deceased were deposited at the Bingham University Teaching Hospital (BUTH).
Longsan said the FRSC, alongside other security and emergency agencies—including the police, army and fire service—responded swiftly by cordoning off the area and diverting traffic to prevent further disaster.
Giving details in a statement issued after the rescue operation, he said:
“As people are still basking in the spirit of the yuletide, FRSC 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 FRSC 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 (BUTH). The corpses of the deceased were deposited at BUTH.
“Eyewitnesses reported that the tanker lost brakes immediately after the Plateau State Specialist Hospital Roundabout and kept descending until it finally crashed and rested on vehicles to take a stationary position.”
He added that, to avert a possible fire outbreak, emergency agencies worked together to secure the area.
“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 at the scene included the FRSC, Nigerian Police, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, Operation Rainbow, Vigilante Group of Nigeria, Nigerian Army, Federal Fire Service, Vehicle Inspection Officers, and the Nigerian Red Cross Society.
It was further stated that the petroleum product was safely transloaded, all affected vehicles were removed, and the road cleared.
“The operation lasted into midnight, and as of this morning the road was clear, road users can go about their business.”
The Sector Commander, FRSC Plateau, Olajide E. Mogaji, commended the inter-agency collaboration and the cooperation of the community, stressing that road safety is everybody’s business.
He urged road users to report emergencies via the FRSC emergency number 122, avoid distractions, and drive defensively, especially as the New Year approaches.