At least 30 people have been confirmed dead and 40 others injured after a tanker carrying petroleum products exploded along the Agaie–Bida Road in the Katcha Local Government Area of Niger State.
The tragic incident occurred around 11 a.m. on Tuesday in Essan àaàaààaà when residents rushed to scoop fuel aaaaaaàaà the crashed tanker. The vehicle, reportedly en route from Lagos to northern Nigeria, burst into flames, burning several victims beyond recognition.
Confirming the incident, the Niger State Chairman of the Petroleum Tanker Drivers branch of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), Comrade Farouk Mohammed Kawo, said the explosion was one of several recent accidents on the deteriorating Bida–Agaie road.
According to him, more than 30 tanker crashes have been recorded in the area since the beginning of October. He lamented that despite repeated warnings, local youths continued to scoop fuel and oil from accident sites, putting their lives at grave risk.
Niger State Governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago, described the explosion as “worrisome, unfortunate, and pathetic,” and commiserated with the victims’ families.