Five Killed as Fuel Tanker Crushes Tricycle in Bayelsa

A deadly road crash in Bayelsa State has claimed the lives of five people, including four schoolchildren, after a fuel tanker collided with and crushed a tricycle (Keke Napep) in the Ibelebiri Community of Ogbia Local Government Area.

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The tragic accident occurred on Wednesday afternoon, around 3:30 p.m., along the Yenegwe–Okarki–Ibelebiri–Otuasega road, which connects several villages in the region.

According to eyewitnesses, the victims, pupils of a local primary school in Otuasega Community were returning home from school when the tanker, reportedly bearing an NNPC logo, lost control and skidded off the road, crushing the tricycle they were riding in.

One child had already crossed the road and reached home safely just moments before the collision.

The remaining four pupils, Isaiah David, God’s Time David, Favour David, Salvation David, and Testimony David and the tricycle operator, their relative, died instantly at the scene.

Their bodies were later evacuated to St. Pat Mortuary in Otuasega for autopsy.

Sources say the tanker driver fled immediately after the crash, heightening tensions among distressed residents.

However, military personnel in the area apprehended the tanker’s conductor, who was then handed over to the Nigeria Police Force for further questioning.

Residents of Ibelebiri and nearby communities were plunged into mourning following the incident, describing the aftermath as heartbreaking.

Community members praised local youths for maintaining peace at the crash scene and for ensuring that the situation did not escalate further.

A Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) official, speaking on condition of anonymity, thanked residents for their cooperation and urged motorists to follow road safety regulations to prevent such tragedies.

DSP Musa Mohammed, Spokesman for the Bayelsa State Police Command, confirmed the crash and said the command has launched a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the collision.

Authorities are expected to review vehicle records, road conditions, and possible mechanical failure as part of the probe.

Fuel tanker accidents remain a persistent hazard on Nigerian roads, often resulting in significant loss of life due to vehicle breakdowns, overloading, poor road conditions, or driver error.

Recent national data has underscored the importance of enhanced enforcement of traffic regulations, especially for heavy commercial vehicles.

For broader statistics on road incidents involving tankers in Nigeria, see past reports on FRSC warnings and crash patterns.

If you’d like, I can also provide a photo‑ready caption, social media snippets, or an infographic summarising key road safety causes behind tanker‑related crashes.