A devastating tanker accident in Niger state has claimed the lives of a woman and her 10-year-old grandson after the vehicle crashed into their residential building. The incident occurred on Sunday, May 17, in the Maje community, located on the outskirts of Suleja.
The victims have been identified as Maryam Shuaibu and her grandson. A young girl from the same household survived the crash but sustained injuries. According to a resident, Muhammad Badamasi, the tanker was traveling from the Minna axis around 7 am heading to Kaduna when the driver experienced brake failure. The driver jumped out of the moving vehicle, leaving his assistant inside, and attempted to stop the truck by throwing objects at its wheels, but these efforts failed.
Repeated Accidents at Same Location
The tanker veered off the road and smashed into the house, killing Maryam and her grandson instantly. Another resident, Abdulmumini Ahmad, revealed that the same house had been struck by moving tankers approximately four times previously due to the poor condition of the federal highway in the area.
Community Protests Erupt
Anger erupted in the community following the incident. Young people blocked the Suleja–Minna Road and another route connecting Dikko Junction to the Abuja–Kaduna expressway. They claimed that families affected in earlier crashes had never received any compensation from authorities or truck operators. The protest caused heavy traffic, extending into Suleja town and surrounding communities along the busy routes.
Officials from the state government, led by the Commissioner for Transport, Abdullahi Shuaibu Maje, arrived at the scene, appealed to the protesters, and successfully reopened the road around 3 pm. The victims were buried according to Islamic rites, and the police in Suleja confirmed the incident.
Broader Context of Road Accidents
In a separate incident, a serious road crash occurred at Federal Bus Stop on Ipaja Road, Lagos, involving a Honda vehicle and two commercial tricycles. The female driver was allegedly speeding and lost control while trying to avoid a street sweeper, hitting the sweeper and colliding with two oncoming tricycles. About 10 passengers sustained injuries and were rushed to nearby hospitals.
Earlier, 11 people died after a Toyota vehicle plunged off the Eruku Bridge along the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway in Ogun state. The Federal Road Safety Corps attributed the crash to suspected overloading and driving under the influence.
