At least 38 people have been confirmed dead and over 40 others injured after a fuel tanker exploded in Ezza village, Katcha Local Government Area of Niger State, Tuesday. The tragic incident occurred along the Agaie Bida highway when a tanker loaded with petrol fell on a bad portion of the road, spilling its contents and triggering a deadly fire.
Eyewitnesses said the tanker, which was conveying fuel from Lagos to northern Nigeria, crashed around 11 a.m. As the fuel began to leak, some residents rushed to the scene with jerrycans to scoop petrol despite warnings from passersby. Moments later, the tanker exploded, setting off an inferno that consumed everyone nearby, including vehicles and roadside stalls.
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Local vigilantes and volunteers were the first to respond, helping to recover charred bodies and evacuate the injured to nearby health centers such as Badegi Clinic and Ezza Dispensary. Witnesses described scenes of chaos and horror, with victims burned beyond recognition and family members crying as they searched for missing loved ones.
Hajiya Aishatu Sa’adu, the Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Niger State, confirmed the accident. She said the explosion caused heavy traffic gridlock on the busy Agaie–Bida road and blamed the delay in rescue operations on the deplorable condition of the route. “The tanker fell due to the bad state of the road, and before rescue teams could arrive, residents had already started scooping fuel. Unfortunately, the tanker exploded, leading to massive casualties,” she said.
Sa’adu added that the FRSC had dispatched officers to manage traffic and assist in rescue operations, but the extent of damage made the operation difficult. She appealed to motorists to avoid the area while rescue efforts continued.
Also reacting, Comrade Farouk Kawo, Chairman of the Niger State Tanker Drivers Association and National Ex-Officio of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), described the tragedy as “devastating and avoidable.” He confirmed that the tanker was on its way to deliver petroleum products to northern depots when it crashed.
Kawo lamented that over 30 similar tanker accidents had occurred along the Bida–Agaie route in October alone, linking the frequent crashes to the poor state of the road and the lack of government intervention. “We have repeatedly warned about the dangers of this road, but nothing has been done. These lives could have been saved if the road was motorable,” he said.
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He further condemned the practice of residents rushing to scoop fuel from fallen tankers, despite several awareness campaigns and past tragedies. Kawo urged Governor Umaru Bago to urgently repair the road and collaborate with federal authorities to enforce safety regulations for tankers and highway users.
As of press time, no official casualty figure had been released by the state government, and emergency responders were still working to clear the wreckage. The explosion has once again drawn attention to the twin problems of poor infrastructure and public recklessness, which continue to claim lives on Nigerian highways.
