Tanker Explosion: 35 Dead, 40 Injured While Scooping Fuel in Niger State
Tragedy struck in Essa village, Katcha Local Government Area of Niger State, on Tuesday, October 21, 2025, when a fuel tanker exploded, leaving at least 35 people dead and 46 others injured.
The explosion occurred along the Agaie–Bida Road after residents rushed to scoop fuel from a fallen tanker. According to eyewitnesses, the tanker, which was laden with petrol, overturned around 11 a.m. due to the poor condition of the road, approximately 4 kilometers from Badeggi town.
Crowds reportedly gathered to collect the spilled fuel before the tanker suddenly exploded around 2 p.m., resulting in multiple casualties.
Confirming the incident, the Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Niger State, Hajiya Aishatu Sa’adu, said 35 people were feared dead while 46 others sustained varying degrees of burns and injuries.
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.
