At least 30 people have been confirmed dead and over 40 others injured following a deadly tanker explosion on Tuesday morning in Niger State. The tragic incident occurred at Essan and Badeggi communities along the Bida–Agaie Road in Katcha Local Government Area.
According to eyewitnesses, the victims were burnt beyond recognition while attempting to scoop fuel from an overturned petrol tanker. The tanker, which was reportedly coming from Lagos and heading to the northern region, fell along the road and spilled its content. Not long after residents rushed to the scene to collect the fuel, the vehicle exploded, killing many instantly and severely injuring others.
Those who survived the explosion were taken to nearby hospitals for emergency treatment. Many of them sustained life-threatening burns.
The explosion has thrown the affected communities into mourning, as families search for missing loved ones and attempt to identify the charred remains of the victims.
Speaking to journalists after the incident, the Niger State Chairman of the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), Tanker Drivers Branch, Comrade Farouk Mohammed Kawo, confirmed the explosion and expressed deep sorrow over the loss of lives.
He stated that the ill-fated tanker was carrying petroleum products from Lagos to the North when the accident occurred. He also revealed that the area where the tanker fell has become notorious for road accidents, especially involving tankers.
Kawo disclosed that over 30 tankers have been involved in accidents along the same route in October alone, making the road a deadly trap for both drivers and residents.
He further condemned the frequent habit of locals rushing to accident scenes to scoop fuel or other products, saying such behavior often ends in tragedy.
“This is not the first time this is happening. Just a few weeks ago, a tanker carrying groundnut oil fell, and people rushed to scoop the oil. Luckily, there was no fire that time. But with petrol, it is extremely dangerous,” Kawo said.
The NUPENG chairman used the opportunity to appeal to the Niger State Government, led by Governor Mohammed Umar Bago, to urgently repair and grade the Bida–Agaie road, which he described as one of the most dangerous in the state.
According to him, the poor state of the road has become a major contributor to the frequent accidents involving heavy-duty vehicles, particularly tankers.
“The road is in terrible condition. Every day, tankers fall, and every time it happens, lives are at risk. If nothing is done, more people will continue to die,” Kawo warned.
He called on both the federal and state governments to take the matter seriously and prevent future disasters by fixing bad roads and discouraging dangerous behaviors like fuel scooping.
As of the time of filing this report, efforts to reach the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Niger State for an official statement were unsuccessful.
However, emergency responders and volunteers were seen at the scene helping victims and trying to clear the area. The burnt tanker remained on the roadside as of Tuesday afternoon, with onlookers still gathering around the site of the deadly blast.
Local leaders and religious figures in Katcha have since begun sensitization campaigns to discourage residents from approaching fuel tankers involved in accidents.
Incidents like this are not new in Nigeria. Across the country, several lives have been lost in similar fuel scooping incidents. In July 2023, a similar explosion in Rivers State killed over 15 people. In 2019, more than 50 people died in Gombe when a tanker overturned and caught fire.
Despite repeated warnings from safety agencies, poverty, desperation, and lack of awareness often drive people to rush toward danger instead of away from it.
Many Nigerians are calling for stronger public awareness campaigns, stricter enforcement of safety laws, and better infrastructure to reduce the frequency of such fatal accidents.
