A massive fire broke out on Tuesday at an MRS filling station along Numan Road, opposite the Jezco filling station near Yola International Airport, engulfing two petrol-laden tankers.
The fire caused panic among residents, many of whom rushed to the scene despite the dangers. The large crowd led to a temporary roadblock on the major route into Yola, the Adamawa State capital.
Eyewitnesses reported that both fuel tankers were completely consumed by the flames before firefighters arrived. Efforts to control the inferno were hampered as fire service personnel reportedly ran out of water. Security operatives were also deployed to the area to manage the crowd and maintain order.
This incident is the latest in a series of deadly fuel tanker explosions across Nigeria, particularly amid the country’s ongoing fuel crisis and worsening economic conditions.
January 2025 alone has witnessed several tragic tanker-related accidents. On January 18, a petrol tanker explosion in Niger State killed at least 86 people and injured 55 others. The victims had gathered to scoop fuel from a fallen tanker before it suddenly exploded. Along the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway, at least 11 people died when a tanker suffered brake failure, overturned, and caught fire. In Agbor, Delta State, five people were killed when another fuel tanker lost control and burst into flames.
Comments