A fuel tanker crash on Benin-Auchi road left eight people dead after a brake failure caused a fiery collision. The victims were trapped in burning vehicles, while others suffered severe injuries. Authorities urge stricter safety measures to prevent similar tragedies on Nigeria’s highways.
A tragic accident on the Benin-Auchi road in Edo State claimed eight lives when a fuel tanker lost control and crashed into multiple vehicles. The incident occurred in the Agbede community, Etsako West Local Government Area, on Sunday, March 9, 2025.
Eyewitnesses reported that the tanker, descending Ewu Hill towards Auchi, suffered a brake failure and rammed into stationary vehicles caught in traffic. The impact triggered a massive explosion, engulfing at least four vehicles, including two tankers carrying petroleum products.
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Edo Sector Commander, Cyril Mathew, confirmed that two people died instantly, while four others sustained severe burns and were rushed to a nearby hospital. Emergency responders later recovered five more bodies from the wreckage, bringing the death toll to eight.
According to reports, the truck driver and his assistant desperately shouted, “No brake! No brake!” before the collision. Witnesses said the victims were trapped in their vehicles, unable to escape the inferno.
Authorities have urged road users to exercise caution, especially on steep descents, and called for stricter enforcement of vehicle maintenance regulations to prevent similar disasters.
