Tragedy struck on Tuesday in Niger State as a tanker explosion claimed the lives of at least 30 people, leaving about 40 others injured in a horrific scene along the Bida–Agaie road in Katcha Local Government Area.
The explosion occurred around 11:00 a.m. between Essan and Badeggi communities, when a tanker loaded with petroleum products overturned and burst into flames as residents gathered to scoop fuel from the fallen vehicle.
Eyewitnesses said the inferno erupted suddenly, consuming dozens of people and leaving many others with severe burns. Several victims were reportedly burnt beyond recognition, while the injured were rushed to nearby hospitals for urgent treatment.
Confirming the incident, Chairman of the Niger State Tanker Drivers Association and National Ex-Officio of NUPENG, Comrade Farouk Kawo, described the explosion as both “devastating and avoidable.”
He explained that the tanker, which was conveying petroleum products from Lagos to northern Nigeria, lost control and crashed along the Bida–Agaie highway.
“This is one tragedy too many. Over 30 tanker accidents have been recorded along this route in October alone,” Kawo lamented. “The deplorable condition of the road is a major cause of these recurrent accidents.”
He also condemned the persistent habit of locals rushing to scoop fuel from accident scenes despite numerous warnings and previous fatalities.
“Just last Sunday, a tanker carrying groundnut oil crashed in this same area, and residents still rushed to collect the product. It’s a dangerous, deadly practice,” he added.
Meanwhile, Kawo appealed to Governor Umaru Bago to urgently rehabilitate the Bida–Agaie road, describing it as a death trap that continues to claim innocent lives.
“If this section of the road is not fixed soon, more lives will be lost. We cannot continue like this,” he warned.
Tanker explosions have become a recurring tragedy in Nigeria, often linked to reckless driving, poor road conditions, and fuel scooping by residents.
In March 2025, at least 10 people died in a pile-up outside Abuja after a tanker burst into flames. Earlier, in January, a similar disaster in Niger State claimed 98 lives when villagers rushed to collect fuel from an overturned tanker.
Following that incident, President Bola Tinubu ordered a national awareness campaign to educate citizens about the risks and environmental hazards associated with scooping fuel from accident scenes — a message that sadly continues to go unheeded.
About the Author
