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At least 30 people have died, and around 40 others sustained various injuries following a devastating tanker explosion on Tuesday in Niger State.
The explosion occurred at about 11:00 a.m. in Essan and Badeggi communities along the Bida–Agaie road in Katcha Local Government Area.
According to eyewitnesses, the victims were attempting to scoop fuel from a fallen tanker when it suddenly exploded, sparking an inferno that consumed many. Several bodies were burnt beyond recognition, while the injured were taken to nearby hospitals for medical care.
Confirming the tragedy, the Chairman of the Niger State Tanker Drivers Association and National Ex-Officio of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), Comrade Farouk Kawo, described the incident as “heartbreaking and preventable.”
Kawo explained that the tanker had been transporting petroleum products from Lagos to the northern region before it crashed. He noted that more than 30 tanker accidents had already occurred along the Bida–Agaie route in October alone, blaming the recurring crashes on the deplorable state of the road.
He also condemned the recurring practice of local youths rushing to collect spilt fuel despite repeated warnings. “Only last Sunday, a tanker conveying groundnut oil also crashed in the same area, and residents hurried to scoop it,” he added.
Efforts to contact the Director-General of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), Abdullahi Baba-Arah, were unsuccessful as he did not answer calls at the time of filing this report.
Kawo urged Governor Umaru Bago to urgently rehabilitate the damaged portion of the road to avert further tragedies and loss of property.
