Two people were killed instantaneously and one was injured when a tanker carrying petrol exploded on Sunday along the Ihiala axis of the Onitsha-Owerri Road, across from the Federal Road Safety Corps office.

After the tanker struck a car and crashed into a barricade, spilling its contents and starting a huge fire, the explosion happened at around 9:30 a.m.


According to witnesses, the tanker lost control and collided into the roadblock while it was moving quickly.

According to one witness, "the tanker exploded with a loud noise and caught fire immediately after the crash, affecting a motorbike that was coming behind."

After spilling its cargo, the tanker exploded. The motorcyclist suffered various injuries and was taken to the hospital, while the driver and his conductor were instantaneously charred to death.

The loud explosion from the collision sent everybody into a frenzy. After the fire swiftly spread to nearby roadways, creating traffic jams, government representatives responded and fought to contain it.

Margaret Onabe, the FRSC's Sector Public Education Officer in Anambra State, confirmed the occurrence and stated that two vehicles were involved in the collision: an unregistered motorbike and a commercial tanker.

"A fatal road traffic crash was reported at the opposite FRSC office in Ihiala on the Ihiala-Onitsha road today, February 8, 2026," she said.

Speed and a loss of control were the crash's most likely causes. One of the three male adults involved was rescued with injuries and transported to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Ihiala, while the other two perished.

After contacting the fire department, the FRSC rescue crew from RS5.34 worked to completely put out the fire, Onabe continued.

She also offered condolences to the victims' families and counselled drivers to drive cautiously and within posted speed limits.

She underlined, "Drive to stay alive; safety is everyone's business."