By Rorisang Modiba
- A trailer powered by gas crashed and exploded near Abuja, killing eight people and setting 14 cars on fire.
- Truck accidents are common in Nigeria due to poor railway transport, with deadly results like a blast that killed 98 in January.
At least eight people were killed when a trailer carrying cement lost control and smashed into several vehicles in traffic near Nigeria’s capital, Abuja.
The crash happened near the Nyanya Bridge in Ayo, about 10km from the city centre, and caused a massive fire that burned 14 vehicles.
According to the Federal Capital Territory Police Command, the trailer was powered by compressed natural gas (CNG) and crashed into a traffic jam.
“The impact triggered a massive inferno, engulfing 14 vehicles in flames,” said the city’s Emergency Management Department. People ran in panic as the fire spread quickly.
Six people were pulled from the wreckage and taken to hospital, but they later died from their injuries.
Truck accidents like this one are common on Nigerian highways. One major reason is the country’s poor railway system, which forces goods to be moved on the roads.
In January, a similar tragedy happened in Niger State. Ninety-eight people died after trying to siphon petrol from a crashed tanker.
The petrol caught fire when someone used a generator nearby, causing a deadly explosion.
Pictured above: The scene.
Image source: @omah of arsenal
