A tragic scene unfolded in Niger State on Tuesday morning as a fuel tanker explosion claimed no fewer than 30 lives and left about 40 others injured along the Bida–Agaie road in Katcha Local Government Area. The devastating incident occurred around 11:00 a.m. near the Essan and Badeggi communities, sending shockwaves across the state.
Eyewitnesses recounted that the explosion erupted after scores of residents gathered to scoop fuel from a fallen tanker that had overturned on the highway. Without warning, the vehicle ignited, resulting in a massive inferno that consumed several people and destroyed nearby properties. Many victims were reportedly burnt beyond recognition, while those who survived sustained severe burns and injuries. Emergency responders and good Samaritans rushed the injured to nearby hospitals for urgent medical attention.
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 both “devastating and avoidable.” He disclosed that the ill-fated tanker had been transporting petroleum products from Lagos to the northern region before it crashed along the dilapidated road.
Kawo lamented the rising frequency of such accidents, revealing that over 30 tanker-related crashes had been recorded along the Bida–Agaie route in the month of October alone. He attributed the disturbing trend to the poor condition of the road and the continued negligence of relevant authorities. The union leader further condemned the recurring behavior of residents, especially young people, who risk their lives by rushing to scoop spilled fuel from accident scenes despite repeated warnings about the dangers.
“Just last Sunday, a tanker carrying groundnut oil crashed in this same area, and people still rushed to scoop the product,” Kawo noted in frustration, emphasizing the urgent need for public sensitization and government intervention.
Efforts by Quest FM/TV News to reach the Director-General of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), Abdullahi Baba-Arah, proved unsuccessful, as calls placed to his mobile line were not answered at the time of filing this report.
Meanwhile, NUPENG has appealed to Governor Umaru Bago to prioritize the rehabilitation of the Bida–Agaie road to prevent further tragedies. The union stressed that continued neglect of the route poses a serious risk to lives, property, and the transportation of petroleum products across the state.
Tanker explosions have become alarmingly common in Nigeria, often triggered by reckless driving, poor road conditions, and the dangerous habit of fuel scooping. Similar incidents have claimed hundreds of lives across the country. In March, ten people died in a highway pileup near Abuja after a tanker caught fire, while in January, another explosion in Niger State killed at least 98 people who had gathered to collect fuel from a crashed tanker. Following that incident, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu launched a national awareness campaign to educate citizens on the dangers and environmental hazards associated with collecting fuel from accident scenes.
The Tuesday explosion in Katcha serves as yet another grim reminder of the urgent need for safer roads, public enlightenment, and stricter enforcement of safety measures to curb the recurring menace of tanker disasters in Nigeria.
News