A DAF tanker involved in illegal “mixed loading” of goods and passengers crashed along the Tafa–Gujeni route in Niger State on Monday morning, leaving 10 people dead and 20 others injured.
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has confirmed a devastating road traffic crash that claimed 10 lives and left 20 others injured on Monday, March 23, 2026. According to a statement by the Corps Marshal, Malam Shehu Mohammed, the incident occurred at approximately 8:20 a.m. at the Malam Tanko axis along the Tafa–Gujeni route in Niger State. The crash involved a single DAF tanker which was found to be carrying a dangerous “mixed load” of industrial goods and 33 male passengers—a prohibited practice that significantly hampered the driver’s ability to maintain stability.
Preliminary investigations by the FRSC linked the disaster to excessive speed and a subsequent loss of control. Of the 33 occupants on board, only three were rescued unhurt. The force of the crash resulted in immediate fatalities, with the vehicle reportedly veering off the road and overturning due to the uneven weight distribution of the illegal passengers. “This crash was entirely avoidable,” Mohammed stated, noting that the misuse of tankers and haulage vehicles for human transportation continues to be a leading cause of mass casualty events on Nigerian highways.
FRSC operatives arrived at the scene shortly after the 8:20 a.m. alert to conduct rescue operations and clear the wreckage to restore traffic flow. The 20 injured survivors were rushed to the Umar Musa General Hospital in Sabon Wuse for urgent medical attention, while the bodies of the 10 deceased victims were deposited at a nearby mortuary. The Corps Marshal has issued a stern warning to motorists and fleet owners against the “inhumane and illegal” practice of loading passengers into cargo vehicles, urging strict compliance with road safety regulations to prevent further loss of life.
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