Tragedy struck on Monday morning in Zaria, Kaduna State, when a tanker explosion claimed several lives and left others injured in a fiery crash along the busy Kaduna–Kano Expressway bypass.
The fatal incident occurred at about 8:30 a.m. in the Dan Magaji area, near the Rochas Foundation School, on the stretch linking Kwangila to Dan Magaji, a major transit route for both interstate and local commuters.
According to eyewitness accounts, the crash involved two fuel-laden tankers and two passenger-filled Volkswagen Golf cars. The vehicles reportedly collided, triggering a chain of five loud explosions. The resulting inferno sent thick plumes of smoke billowing over the highway, visible from several kilometres away.
Eyewitnesses told security analyst Zagazola Makama who reported the incident via his X (formerly Twitter) handle that the impact was devastating.
“All the occupants of the cars died on the spot, except one driver who survived but sustained severe burns,” a witness said.
The scene quickly descended into chaos as flames engulfed the wreckage, making immediate rescue efforts perilous. Motorists and bystanders were seen fleeing for safety as the fire spread, with fears of further explosions.
Emergency responders, including operatives of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), firefighters, and security agencies, swiftly arrived at the scene. They have since cordoned off the area and are working to evacuate victims and clear debris.
Authorities have urged motorists to avoid the affected route and use alternative roads while rescue and recovery operations continue. The exact number of casualties is yet to be officially confirmed, but sources at the scene described the death toll as “significant.”
The Kaduna–Kano Expressway has long been regarded as one of the country’s high-risk highways, with frequent reports of fatal accidents involving heavy-duty vehicles.
