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…over 50 not six casualties recorded
By Daniel Adaji
Fresh evidence has contradicted official claims regarding the true extent of casualties in a fuel tanker explosion at Karu Bridge, near Nyanya Market, Abuja, on the 19th of March 2025.
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Emergency Management Department (FEMD) and the FCT Police Command initially reported a significantly lower number of fatalities. However, video footage obtained by our reporter reveals that over 50 people—mainly roadside traders, passersby, and motorists—were burned beyond recognition in the inferno.
The tragedy unfolded at about 6:58 p.m. when a fuel tanker loaded with Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) and liquid fuel lost control due to brake failure, crashed into multiple vehicles, and exploded. The driver of a Dangote trailer, also suffering brake failure, worsened the situation by ramming into stationary vehicles, igniting a second inferno.
While eyewitnesses described a horrifying scene with massive flames and thick smoke, authorities downplayed the scale of the destruction.
The FCT Police Command, in an official statement signed by its spokesperson, SP Josephine Adeh, acknowledged only six fatalities.
“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,” the statement read.
The police also reported that “fourteen vehicles” were burned but did not acknowledge the many individuals who were caught in the flames, despite overwhelming evidence from survivors and witnesses.
Similarly, the FCT Emergency Management Department (FEMD) focused on its rescue operations, noting that victims had to be transferred to the State House Clinic as Asokoro Hospital and National Hospital were already overwhelmed.
However, the video seen by our reporter captures charred bodies of traders and commuters littering the scene, far exceeding the official figures. The footage also shows burnt remains of over a dozen vehicles, contradicting the government’s narrative.
A survivor, who preferred anonymity, described the moment of horror:
“I saw the tanker speeding uncontrollably, swerving from side to side before it crashed. In seconds, there was a loud blast, and flames spread in all directions. People had no time to escape.”
Another witness stated that the fire engulfed multiple roadside stalls, trapping vendors and shoppers.
“The fire moved so fast. I saw people trying to run but getting caught in the flames. Many didn’t make it,” he said.
For now, the truth remains undeniable—more than 50 people perished in the inferno, and no official statement can erase the tragic reality captured on video.