The FCT Emergency Management Department (FEMD) has confirmed that ten persons have lost their lives following the truck explosion that occurred at Karu Bridge along the Abuja-Keffi Expressway on Wednesday.
It will be recalled that there were fears of fatalities on Wednesday night around Karu Bridge on the Abuja-Keffi Expressway, in the nation’s capital, Abuja, following the explosion of a CNG-powered Dangote trailer conveying cement.
Witnesses said the truck lost control around Karu Bridge, an area between Kugbo and Nyanya on the Abuja-Keffi Expressway.
In less than 24 hours, on Thursday, another accident occurred under the same Karu Bridge along the Abuja-Keffi Expressway. Thankfully, no life was lost in this incident.
According to Nkechi Isa, the Head of Public Affairs of FEMD, in a statement on Thursday, “Our search and rescue team reported that the accident occurred when a truck laden with fertiliser ran into a Hijet and a dump truck, also known as a tipper.”
Reacting to the incident, the Acting Director General of FEMD, Engr Abdulrahman Mohammed, advised motorists to drive with caution, as the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) is taking steps to tow away the affected vehicles in order to avoid a traffic build-up, she stated.
A resident of Karu, Stephen Ogidi, told the Nigerian Tribune on Thursday that there should be an alternative route to the Abuja-Keffi Expressway to prevent residents from suffering whenever there is carnage on the road.
He said: “I pity some of us living in this axis; sometimes we wonder if we don’t pay taxes. Nasarawa State Government is doing nothing about creating alternative routes that connect to its FCT borders despite the high revenue being generated in taxes.
“There should have been an alternative route to the Abuja-Keffi road so that residents don’t continue to suffer whenever there is carnage on this road.
“This Karu Bridge junction should have another road leading into areas like Maraba, Masaka, etc. There’s one Karu Bridge, not the popular one at the express where this accident happened. I am talking about the Karu Road constructed by the World Bank many years ago, which leads to the Maraba junction. Go and see it today; it’s an eyesore.
“Look at the boundary between FCT and Nasarawa; you can’t drive in peace because of the condition of the road.”
However, earlier on Thursday, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Command of the Nigerian Police Force came out to confirm that the explosion claimed six lives and that fourteen vehicles were burnt in the incident. However, the Federal Capital Territory Emergency Management Department (FEMD) disclosed that the death toll had risen to ten.
The Command’s Spokesperson, SP Josephine Adeh, in a statement to journalists on Thursday in Abuja, quoted the FCT Commissioner of Police, Tunji, who has been promoted to the rank of AIG, as saying: “The FCT Police Command deeply regrets to confirm a devastating motor vehicle accident that occurred today, 19 March 2025, at about 6:58 PM before Nyanya Bridge. A distress call was received by the Karu Division reporting a horrifying scene—a Dangote trailer, heavily loaded with cement and approaching Nyanya Bridge from AYA, had lost control and crashed into stationary vehicles trapped in traffic.
“The impact engulfed fourteen vehicles in a raging inferno. Panic and chaos followed as bystanders and motorists scrambled for safety. Emergency responders rushed to the scene, battling thick smoke and intense heat to rescue those trapped. Six victims were pulled from the wreckage and rushed to the hospital, but tragically, they were confirmed dead by medical personnel on duty. Their remains have been deposited at the Karu General Hospital Morgue.
“Police operatives, in collaboration with fire service personnel, other security agencies, and courageous individuals at the scene, contained the inferno, and normal traffic flow has been restored.
“Members of the public are strongly urged to exercise caution and adhere to speed limits while driving, especially in high-traffic areas. Safe driving habits can prevent tragedies like this and save lives.”
Meanwhile, according to the Head of Forecasting Response and Mitigation Division of the Federal Capital Territory Emergency Management Department (FEMD), Mr Mark Nyam, the accident occurred when the driver of the CNG-powered truck lost control on the bridge, thereby running into other motorists and leading to an explosion.
The Acting Director General of FEMD, Engr Abdulrahman Mohammed, on his part, has commiserated with the victims and families affected by the tragic truck fire incident at Karu Bridge, along Keffi Road in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Mohammed disclosed that the fire, which broke out around 7:14 PM on Wednesday night, claimed several lives and destroyed multiple vehicles. He stated that preliminary reports indicated the incident was caused by an open-body trailer powered by Compressed Natural Gas (CNG).
“Eight bodies were deposited at the Karu Hospital Morgue, one body at the Asokoro District Hospital Morgue, while another body was deposited at the National Hospital,” he explained.
He added that 30 others were receiving treatment across various hospitals in the FCT.
Mohammed, therefore, urged all drivers to exercise caution on the roads and obey traffic rules and regulations to prevent similar occurrences.
Meanwhile, the National Blood Service Agency is appealing for urgent blood donations after Wednesday’s tragic vehicle accident on the Abuja-Keffi Expressway.
Making the appeal in a statement, the Director General of the National Blood Service Agency, Prof Saleh Yuguda, said many victims are in critical condition and require immediate blood transfusions.
While stressing that hospitals are working hard to save lives, he noted they urgently need sufficient blood supplies. He appealed to all eligible donors in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to visit blood donation centres and hospitals to help.
The National Blood Service Agency adds that a single donation could mean the difference between life and death, as every drop of blood counts in this emergency.
Senator Oluremi Tinubu, the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, in a statement she personally signed on Thursday, extended her condolences to the victims and their loved ones. She said: “I am deeply saddened by the unfortunate incident of the tanker explosion, which occurred on Wednesday, 19 March 2025, by the Karu Bridge along the Abuja-Keffi Highway, which led to the loss of many lives and property.
“I commiserate with the Minister of the FCT, His Excellency Nyesome Wike, CON, the families of the deceased and injured, the residents, affected business and property owners, and the people of Abuja.
“I urge owners and drivers of vehicles, especially articulated vehicles, to ensure the roadworthiness and good condition of their vehicles before putting them on the road to avert a reoccurrence of such incidents.
“I pray Almighty God grants the souls of the departed eternal rest and their family and friends the fortitude to bear the irreplaceable loss.
“To the injured, I wish them a speedy recovery.”
On her part, the Minister of Women’s Affairs, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, in a statement issued to journalists on Thursday in Abuja by her Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Jonathan Eze, stated: “I am deeply saddened by the tragic gas tanker fire explosion that occurred at Karu Bridge along the Abuja-Nyanya-Keffi Highway on Wednesday evening.
“My thoughts and prayers are with the victims, their families, and all those affected by this unfortunate incident. The loss of lives and property is a painful reminder of the need for increased safety measures to prevent such occurrences.
“As we mourn, I extend my heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and wish the injured a swift recovery. May God grant them strength and comfort during this difficult time.”
In a related development, the Presidential CNG Initiative, in a statement issued to journalists in Abuja on Thursday, stated: “We are deeply saddened by the tragic accident on the Karu Bridge between Kugbo and Nyanya in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Our hearts go out to the victims, their families, and all those affected by this devastating incident.”
“While initial reports suggest the involvement of a bi-fuelled petrol tanker, we urge the public to await the outcome of a thorough investigation to ascertain the exact cause of the accident. Preliminary accounts indicate a possible brake system failure leading to the explosion of the petrol storage tank, but it is crucial to avoid speculation until all facts are established.
“The PCNG Initiative remains committed to promoting the safe and sustainable use of CNG as a cleaner energy alternative. We will continue to work closely with relevant authorities, including the FCT Emergency Management Department (FEMD), the Federal Fire Service, and other stakeholders, to ensure that safety standards are upheld and incidents like this are prevented in the future.
“We commend the swift response of the emergency responders, including FEMD, the Nigeria Police Force, and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), who are on the ground working tirelessly to rescue victims and manage the situation.”
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