A devastating fuel tanker explosion rocked the upscale Maitama area of Abuja on Monday evening, leaving multiple people injured and sparking widespread panic.
The incident occurred along Shehu Shagari Way, with nearby passengers in a commercial vehicle also affected.
Motorists abandoned their vehicles and fled for safety, causing a massive gridlock along Nicon Hotel, MTN, and Chicken House. One eyewitness, #Southsouthboy3, described the scene on X, saying, “A petrol-laden tanker has exploded in Maitama… Many motorists abandoned their vehicles on the busy road and ran for their lives.”
Emergency responders swiftly arrived at the scene, and nearby hospitals were alerted to receive the injured. Unfortunately, the driver of the tanker fled the scene after the truck tipped over, leading to the explosion.
The exact cause of the incident is still under investigation. However, the Director of the FCT Fire Service, Amiola Adebayo, revealed that the tanker, owned by the AP Filling Station, overturned at the Maitama Roundabout, near the MTN Office, after colliding with a Sienna vehicle, which caused the fire.
The explosion resulted in significant traffic disruptions in the area, exacerbating movement challenges in the busy federal capital city. Two occupants of the Sienna vehicle were taken to the hospital for treatment.
