A potential disaster was averted in Kogi State on Friday evening following a fuel tanker accident along the Felele Expressway, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has confirmed.

FRSC Sector Commander in Kogi, Mr. Tenimu Etuku, told The Nation that the accident occurred at the Crusher area around 5 p.m., when the tanker, en route to Abuja, became detached from its head and rolled into a ditch.

“The tanker driver and his assistant escaped without injuries. There were no casualties,” Etuku said.

He added that the FRSC patrol team quickly rushed to the scene and coordinated with the police, the National Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and the Mobile Police unit to secure the area.

“The primary concern was to prevent residents from attempting to scoop the fuel, which could have triggered a fire,” the sector commander explained. “We recalled the tragic incidents in Niger and Jigawa states, where lives were lost while people tried to collect spilled fuel.”

According to Etuku, some individuals attempted to scoop the fuel before the arrival of security personnel but were promptly chased away. The area was fully cordoned off with the cooperation of local community leaders.

“The community and security agencies jointly ensured that no one entered the ditch to collect fuel,” he said, appealing to residents to avoid any temptation that could lead to a fire disaster.

The warning follows a recent tanker explosion in Niger State that claimed 45 lives and left 62 people severely injured. That accident occurred when a fuel-laden tanker fell on its side at Essa community along the Bida–Badegi–Agaie Road in Katcha Local Government Area.

National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) Head of Operations, Hussaini Isah, had said road conditions and traffic congestion hampered rescue operations, adding that all victims were injured while scooping fuel from the tanker.

Etuku urged communities across Kogi and neighbouring states to exercise caution and report any similar incidents immediately to avoid loss of lives.