By 9jaeye 
A heartbreaking tragedy struck Asaba, Delta State, on the afternoon of Wednesday, December 10, 2025, in the Asaba Sienna fire accident, when a fully loaded Toyota Sienna commercial vehicle suddenly went up in flames, killing 16 passengers, including five children, within seconds of leaving a fuel station.
Passengers Set Out on Holiday Trip From Abraka Park
The incident happened in the Abraka area of Asaba, where a group of northern residents from Zaria gathered at the Abraka Motor Park, located inside an abandoned and non-functional filling station. The passengers were preparing to travel home for the holiday season when they boarded the Toyota Sienna for their journey from Asaba to Zaria.
After loading the vehicle with families, children, and luggage, the driver drove to a nearby functional fuel station, A A Rano, to fill the tank before starting the long trip.
Sienna Bursts Into Flames Moments After Refueling
Eyewitnesses said the tragedy unfolded only seconds after the Sienna exited the fuel station and joined the road. Suddenly, the fire spread through the vehicle, engulfing it in flames within moments.
Only the driver escaped. Flames trapped all the other passengers, including children, who died on the spot as residents watched helplessly.
An eyewitness said a gallon of petrol inside the Sienna was leaking and may have caused the fire. Additionally, when people rushed to help, some ran to A A Rano, the filling station where the fuel had been purchased, to request a fire extinguisher. According to the eyewitness, the manager allegedly refused to provide it. Authorities have not confirmed this claim.
Community Demands Answers After Devastating Loss
The fire spread too quickly for anyone to intervene. Videos from the scene show the vehicle completely engulfed by flames while onlookers screamed in shock.
As a result, the tragedy has left the Abraka community deeply shaken. It has also raised urgent questions about transport safety, handling fuel containers inside passenger vehicles, and the alleged refusal of emergency assistance by the nearby filling station.
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