Tragedy struck in Katcha Local Government Area of Niger State as a fuel tanker exploded, k!lling 35 people and injuring 46 others.
The incident occurred along the Agaie-Bida Road in Essa village on Tuesday afternoon, October 21, 2025 while residents were scooping petroleum products from a fallen tanker.
Sources told Daily Trust that the petrol laden tanker fell around 11am on Tuesday due to the deplorable state of the road at Essa, about 4km from Badeggi town.
The source said people trooped to the place to scoop fuel until the tanker exploded around 2pm.
Hajiya Aishatu Sa’adu, Sector Commander of Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Niger Command, confirmed the incident but said that 35 persons are feared dead while 46 others sustained varying degrees of injuries in the explosion.
She said the injured victims were evacuated to the Federal Medical Centre, Bida, with the support of FRSC personnel, villagers and some good Samaritans.
According to her, the unfortunate incident has caused serious traffic gridlock on the ever busy expressway, particularly due to the bad nature of the road.
She also warned members of the public against scooping fuel from accident scenes, describing it as a dangerous act that had claimed many lives in the past.
“It is God that gives wealth. People should avoid greed and be content with what God has given them,” she added.
Sa’adu pointed out that the deplorable state of the road also impacted response time for the rescue operation.
The Chairman of Tanker Drivers Association, Niger State Chapter, Farouk Mohammed Kawo also confirmed the incident.
He said the tanker departed from Lagos and en route to the North when it fell down and subsequently got engulfed by fire.
Kawo lamented that over 30 tankers/trailers had been involved in accidents on the same road within this month, due to the deplorable state of the road.
He appealed to the Niger state government under the leadership of Governor Mohammed Umar Bago to urgently come to their aid by grading the particular area to ease movement and prevent loss of lives and properties.
