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SAD! D£ath Toll In Enugu Explos!on Stands At 11
….as eyewitnesses Claim Around 70 D£ad, 11 Vehicles B√rnt
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
A horrific fuel tanker explosion occurred in Enugu State, Nigeria, on Saturday, resulting in the loss of many lives.
The tragic incident occurred at the Ugwu Onyeama, along Enugu- Onitsha expressway, when a fuel-laden tanker experienced brake failure while navigating the hilly road.
Recall that scores of people had been reportedly burnt to death in a petrol tanker accident that occurred at Ugwu Onyama Federal Highway on Saturday morning.
Also, several others were reportedly injured in the inferno which destroyed several vehicles.
SaharaReporters which visited the scene of the unfortunate incident learned that the petrol tanker which was going down to Enugu City, had a brake failure while descending the hilly road.
The tanker driver lost control of the vehicle and crashed into a water tanker belonging to JUHEL Nigeria Limited, which was going to 9th Mile to get water, causing a massive explosion that destroyed everything in its path.
The fire, which raged for a considerable distance of about 14 poles, engulfed 11 vehicles, killing their occupants. The Federal Road Safety Corps reported an official death toll of 11, though eyewitnesses estimated that the number of casualties was much higher.
They estimated that in tanker trucks – two people died; water tanker -one person; Toyota Camry – four persons; two Sienna buses – 16; a tricycle – four; Lexus – six; commuter bus – 19; minibus – eight; and L300 bus -14.
The drivers of the lowbed truck carrying an excavator and a Mack truck survived the accident without any injuries. Witnesses described the blast as devastating, with many victims burned beyond recognition.
An eyewitness, a tanker driver, who gave his name as Eziechina revealed that the tragic incident claimed so many lives.
He said some others who were injured have been taken to nearby hospitals.
He said, “Yes, there was a big tragedy this afternoon at Ugwu Onyama Federal Highway. A tanker carrying premium motor spirit (PMS), otherwise known as petrol, fell at the hilly road and spilled the product down the road. Unfortunately, it caught fire and all the vehicles plying the road at the time caught fire and burned people beyond recognition.
“As I am speaking with you, over 10 people including children have been burnt beyond recognition. Some have just been loaded in a pick-up van to the morgue now. So many others have been loaded in a vehicle and taken to a morgue earlier. As we speak, there’s no road through Ugwu Onyama.
I am trapped somewhere in Ngwo. The situation is tragic. The second lane of the road is impassable. The fire raged along the road leading to Agu-abor tunnel.”
He lamented that rescue efforts were hindered by the intensity of the fire, making it challenging for bystanders to access the scene.
“Even two persons who came out of their vehicle thinking they could escape were caught in the fire and were burned to death.”
Meanwhile, a Federal Road Safety Corps officer who spoke to our reporter at the scene estimated that 99% of the victims were burned to ashes, making it difficult to determine the exact number of fatalities.
The road safety official said: “What we are doing now as you can see is that we are counting the number of the vehicles, their type and calculate the casualty figures based on the seating number.”
He added, “From my figure so far, nine vehicles were burned beyond recognition in addition to the tanker and water truck it collided with, making it 11 vehicles. A Mack truck was partially burned and nobody died in it. The lowbed truck carrying excavator was burned but luckily enough the driver escaped.”
According to him, “Looking at the vehicles, this is Toyota Camry, it carries four passengers and driver that is five; Sienna bus carries seven passengers and driver making it eight and we have two Sienna buses involved. We have a tricycle, which carries three passengers and with the driver, that makes it four; a Lexus vehicle involved; the relations of the occupants came and they were six in the vehicle.”
“We also have a commuter bus carrying mainly women from Nsukka and a bus normally carries 18 passengers and driver. The bus loaded passengers in Nsukka. We have a minibus and it carries seven passengers and a driver. We have L300 bus. Normally, it is a 14-seater bus and when you include the driver, the number will be 15. So you can calculate the figure. The lowbed truck carrying excavator and Mack truck; both drivers survived the incident,” he said.
The tragedy has sparked calls for the federal government to prioritise alternative transportation methods, such as railways and pipelines, to reduce the risks associated with tanker delivery systems.
Meanwhile, the Enugu State government has said that 11 persons died in the incident, while noting that Governor Peter Mbah has expressed sadness over the accident.
In a statement by the Governor’s media office, the governor spoke when he visited the scene for on-the-spot assessment.
According to the statement, the government has already swung into action to ensure that the victims receive full medical attention, while also taking steps to forestall future occurrences, including enforcement of road rules and fixing the part of the federal road in disrepair.
Describing the accident as unfortunate, Mbah commiserated with the families of the victims.
He further directed the Federal Road Safety Commission’s Sector Commander, Enugu, Mr Franklin Agbakoba, and the State Commissioner for Transport, Mr Obi Ozor, to ensure that all tankers conveying inflammable substances in the state have anti-spill lock that will prevent spill in case of accident.
“This is an accident involving a tanker that preliminary investigation shows may have had a brake failure, fell down, had its product, premium motor spirit spill from the tank and ignited. So, this is for us a tragedy where we have some casualties.
“But as I said, investigation is still at preliminary stages. The police and other law enforcement agencies are on it. We want to get to the root of this for us to understand the true cause of the accident.
“In the meantime, we have moved those that are in need of treatment to the hospitals for full medical attention. My Commissioner for Health and also my Special Adviser on Health, the Chief Medical Director of the Enugu State University of Science and Technology Teaching Hospital (ESUTTH), Parklane, Enugu, the police, and Federal Road Safety Corps are all involved. They have my instruction to ensure that maximum medical attentions were given to the survivors,” the governor stated.
Continuing, he stated, “But we’re also taking quick measures as a government.
” I have just been speaking the head of the Federal Road Safety Corps to make sure they enforce the rules that prohibit tanker drivers from the road without an anti-spill lock. Tankers conveying premium motor spirit and inflammable products must have an anti-spill lock to ensure that when these trucks fall down, they do not spill (their content). It is very important.
“Also, for us as a government, we are going to be looking at how we can deploy some traffic rules to ensure that we do not have a recurrence of this.
“We are obviously not going to wait for the federal government to fix the other section of the road. We as government are going to take steps to ensure that whatever needs to be done on that section of the federal road is done immediately so we would never want a reoccurrence of this.”
While briefing the governor on some of the preliminary investigation conducted by the FRSC. Its Sector Commander for Enugu explained that the tanker spill was caused by a brake failure.
He added that 11 people lost their lives at the scene, adding that injured road users were rushed to the hospital for treatment.
He thanked the governor for showing leadership by rushing to the scene and equally undertaking to foot the medical bills
The Bauchi State Police Command has arrested 47 people allegedly posing as operatives of a state-owned security outfit during the by-election in Disina State Constituency, Shira Local Government Area of the state.
The suspects were arrested at various polling units on Saturday while allegedly armed with guns, cutlasses and sticks, contrary to the Electoral Act and security directives issued ahead of the election.
The Police Public Relations Officer of the command, SP Nafiu Habib, disclosed this in a statement on Saturday.
Habib said, “Following our deployment for election duty in Disina State Constituency, Shira LGA, 47 operatives claiming to be members of a state-owned security outfit were arrested within polling units.
“They were found in possession of guns, cutlasses and sticks, in contravention of the Electoral Act and the security directives earlier issued.”
The PPRO added that the suspects were immediately taken into custody, while firearms and other dangerous weapons were recovered from them.
He said, “The suspects were immediately taken into custody. Exhibits, including firearms and other dangerous weapons, were recovered from them.”
According to Habib, the Commissioner of Police, Sani-Omolori Aliyu, condemned the development and directed that the suspects be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department for further investigation.
He quoted the CP as condemning “this blatant disregard for lawful directives and attempt to undermine the electoral process.”
Habib said the suspects had been transferred to the SCID, Bauchi, “for discreet investigation and prosecution in accordance with the law.”
The command reiterated its commitment to ensuring a peaceful, credible and hitch-free by-election.
It warned that “any person or group, regardless of status, who attempts to disrupt the electoral process or cause a breach of peace will be decisively dealt with.”
The police also called on members of the public to remain law-abiding and report suspicious activities to the authorities.
PUNCH reports that the Bauchi State Police Command, in a statement issued on Friday, September 18, 2026, outlined security arrangements for the bye-elections in Disina State Constituency, Shira LGA, and Sakwa State Constituency, Zaki LGA.
In the statement, the command declared that “state-owned security outfits, quasi-security agencies, private security guards and vigilante groups are not allowed to participate in election security coverage.”
The command stated that only “statutorily recognised security agencies under the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security are mandated to provide security for the elections.”
The federal government has constituted a 10-member independent committee to investigate the deaths of the 37 suspected illegal miners detained last Thursday by the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Minna, the Niger State capital.
This development followed Friday’s directive by President Bola Tinubu for a “full and transparent” investigation into the deaths of the suspected illegal miners.
The Northern Senators Forum (NSF), Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and the Campaign for Democracy (CD) have also called for a thorough, independent and transparent probe into the incident.
In a statement issued yesterday, the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, also released the names of the 21 officers suspended so far in connection with the incident.
This is just as the former military President, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (rtd.), has denied ownership of the mining site in Minna where some of the suspected illegal miners were arrested before they died in the custody of the NSCDC.
Babangida alongside former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar (rtd), also called for thorough and extensive investigations into the deaths of the 37 suspected illegal miners.
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has also commenced a preliminary investigation into the incident.
On Thursday, the NSCDC said it arrested the suspects during operations conducted on September 15 and 16 around Lt. Gen. Mohammed Inuwa Wushishi Estate in Minna.
The NSCDC commandant in Niger State, Suberu Aniviye, had claimed in a statement that “scores of the detained suspects were found dead in the early hours of Thursday following a suspected outbreak of disease”.
Following the development, the federal government suspended him and ordered a full investigation into the circumstances surrounding the deaths.
Tunji-Ojo directed the suspension of all officers involved in the incident pending the conclusion of the independent committee’s investigation.
“The minister directed the committee to determine responsibility, complicity, negligence, and misconduct, and to recommend appropriate action, compensation where applicable, and measures to prevent a recurrence,” the statement reads.
The minister also warned that “any attempt to destroy or conceal evidence, intimidate witnesses or obstruct the investigation will be treated as a serious offence.”
A retired deputy director-general of the Department of State Services (DSS), Jonathan Kure, chairs the committee. In contrast, former director-general of the Nigeria Law School Isa Hayatu Chiroma will serve as secretary.
Other members include retired Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) Hosea Karma; former chief medical director of the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Olayinka Buhari; a representative of the Minna Emirate Council; and a representative of the Niger State government.
Also on the list are National Secretary of Miners Association of Nigeria, Liman Sulaiman; human rights lawyer, Deji Adeyanju; Zainab Suleiman Okino of Blueprint Newspaper; and a public affairs analyst, George Agbakahi.
The full list of the officers so far suspended, in addition to the Niger State NSCDC Commandant, are: Officer-in-Charge (O/C) Station Guard, SC Usman Isah Ndamaka; Station Guard, ASCI Hassan Mohammed; Station Guard, CCA Bala Mohammed; Arresting Officer/O/C Investigation, CSC Oluwadare Sunday; Arresting Officer, DCC Obafemi Elvis; Arresting Officer, CSC Annas Shitto Lamino; O/C Legal, ACC Stephen Tsado; and HOD INT/INV, DCC Philip Ajayi.
Others are: Day/Night Duty Officer, ASCI Alhassan Mohammed; Guard Duty, IC Abdullahi Sale; Guard Duty, IC Mohammed Sonfada; Guard Duty, CAI Liman Abubakar; Guard Duty, CAI Bala Usman; Guard Duty, IC Mohammed Jiya; Guard Duty, DSC Isah Suleiman; Guard Duty, CAI Ahmed Wushishi; Guard Duty, IC Sale Adamu; Guard Duty, IC Haruna Mohammed; Guard Duty, ASCI Aliyu Sallah; and Guard Duty, CAI Isah Sanusi.
Meanwhile, NHRC has also commenced a preliminary investigation into the incident.
Executive Secretary of the NHRC, Mr Tony Ojukwu, condemned the incident and expressed concern over the loss of lives in state custody, particularly as the precise cause of death remains subject to investigation.
According to the commission, the bodies of the deceased were deposited at the General Hospital, Minna, for medical examination, while security authorities have initiated separate investigations.
Ojukwu, in a statement issued by the organisation’s Director, Corporate Affairs and External Linkages, Fatimah Mohammed, directed the Commission’s preliminary investigation to establish the circumstances leading to the deaths.
He also called for an independent forensic autopsy and the preservation of all relevant evidence.
He further stressed that the investigations already ordered by the Minister of Interior and the NSCDC must be conducted transparently, thoroughly and in accordance with international standards governing investigations into potentially unlawful deaths in custody.
“Citizens who are arrested on suspicion by law enforcement agents are by law expected to enjoy the full complement of their fundamental human rights in accordance with national and international human rights instruments,” Ojukwu said.
Northern Senators, NBA, CD Demand Independent Probe
Meanwhile, the Northern Senators Forum (NSF) has demanded an immediate, transparent and independent investigation into the incident.
The senators also called for independent autopsies on all the victims. They demanded that anyone found culpable of criminal negligence, unlawful detention, reckless conduct or any deliberate act that contributed to the deaths should be prosecuted, irrespective of rank or position.
The Chairman of the Northern Senators Forum, Senator Abdulaziz Musa Yar’adua, in a statement issued yesterday, said the circumstances surrounding the deaths were “deeply disturbing and unacceptable.”
He stressed that no Nigerian should lose his life in the custody of an agency established to protect lives and property.
The senators also demanded answers to questions surrounding the alleged distress calls, including when they were made, who heard them and what action was taken before the deaths occurred.
The President of the NBA, Mrs Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya (SAN), has also called for a thorough, independent and transparent investigation into the deaths of the 37 suspected miners.
The association said it had deliberately refrained from reaching conclusions on the cause of the deaths pending the outcome of investigations, stressing that the incident required evidence-based findings.
The NBA said the prompt response by the authorities was commendable but stressed that the credibility of the process would depend on the independence and thoroughness of the investigations.
“The true measure of the response will ultimately not be the speed with which investigations are announced, but rather the independence and thoroughness with which they are conducted, the transparency with which their findings are made known, and the accountability that follows from those findings,” it said.
The association also called for an investigation into wider illegal mining operations, including those who may have owned, financed, controlled, or profited from the activities.
Similarly, the CD has called on the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, and other senior security officials to institute an independent investigation into the incident.
The group also called for the immediate suspension of the NSCDC Controller-General, pending the outcome of the investigation, arguing that such a step would help ensure the credibility and independence of the probe.
In a statement issued yesterday by its National President, Reverend Ifeanyi Odili, the CD said the circumstances surrounding the reported deaths required urgent clarification, transparency and accountability.
The Independent National Electoral Commission has assured Nigerians of its commitment to electoral integrity ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, gave the assurance on Saturday while presiding over operations at the Commission’s National Situation Room at its headquarters in Abuja.
According to a statement issued and signed by the Chief Press Secretary and Media Adviser to the INEC Chairman, Adedayo Oketola, Amupitan said operational bottlenecks identified before the by-elections held in Gombe, Kano, Bauchi and Delta states were swiftly addressed.
“Our primary mandate in the Situation Room is monitoring and proactive crisis resolution.
“Whatever administrative or field challenges arose in before the day of the elections, the Commission was able to nip them in the bud effectively. We remain committed to refining our processes so that every subsequent exercise reflects higher standards of efficiency and public confidence.”
The Commission conducted four legislative by-elections in the Gombe/Kwami/Funakaye Federal Constituency in Gombe State, Dawakin Kudu State Constituency in Kano State, Sakwa and Disina State Constituencies in Bauchi State and Udu State Constituency in Delta State on Saturday.
Amupitan described the by-elections as crucial operational tests that would provide lessons for the 2027 general election.
He said every off-cycle election was an important dress rehearsal for the general election, stressing that no electoral contest should be regarded as trivial or routine.
“These four bye-elections provide indispensable operational lessons for the Commission as we systematically chart our roadmap toward the 2027 general election.
“We must resist the temptation to view any exercise as merely an ordinary bye-election. Every election is a critical component of our broader preparations for the 2027 general election, allowing us to continuously audit our logistics framework, stress-test our technological deployment, and evaluate administrative field readiness,”
The INEC chairman, accompanied by National Commissioners and senior management officials, monitored the elections as operational reports were received from the various states.
Amupitan thanked officials in the Situation Room, particularly the technical team, for enabling the Commission to monitor the multi-state exercise seamlessly and assess field performance without any hitch.
Bauchi by-election: Police arrest 47 for impersonating state security
FG Probes Deaths of 37 Suspected Illegal Miners in Minna, Names 20 Suspended NSCDC Officers
2027: INEC assures Nigerians of electoral integrity
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