October 22, (THEWILL) — At least 39 persons have been confirmed dead and more than 60 others injured after a petrol-laden tanker exploded on Tuesday in Essa community, along the Agaie–Bida road in Katcha Local Government Area of Niger State.
In a statement on Wednesday, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) said the tragedy occurred when an articulated petrol tanker tumbled and exploded as residents gathered to scoop fuel from the scene. The explosion, which happened around 3:45 p.m., sent flames through the area, engulfing people and nearby structures.
The agency’s Director General, Mrs Zubaida Umar, said upon receiving the distress call, she immediately directed the Head of NEMA Minna Operations Office, Mr Hussaini Isah, to activate the rescue team and deploy personnel to support the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA) and other first responders.
“The explosion, which happened along the Bida–Badegi–Agaie road, claimed 39 lives and left over 60 persons with severe burns, including men, women, and children”, NEMA stated.
Most of the victims were trying to scoop petrol from the tanker after it tipped over. In October 2024, over 100 people were confirmed dead after a similar tanker explosion on the Kano–Hadejia Expressway in Jigawa State, where victims were also scooping fuel from an overturned tanker.
While expressing condolences to the victims and their families, Umar warned members of the public against scooping petrol from accident scenes, stressing that such acts have “repeatedly led to avoidable loss of lives.”
She further urged residents and motorists to keep away from fallen tankers and report such incidents promptly to emergency agencies for professional handling.
Reacting to the tragedy, Governor Umar Bago of Niger State described the incident as “disheartening”, lamenting that despite repeated warnings and public sensitisation, residents continue to risk their lives by approaching accident tankers to collect spilt fuel.
“It is unfortunate that our people still engage in such dangerous behaviour despite several awareness campaigns. We must learn to prioritise safety and allow emergency officials to do their work”, Bago said.
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