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By Oscar Okhifo
No fewer than 30 persons have been confirmed dead and about 40 others sustained varying degrees of burns after a petrol-laden tanker exploded on Tuesday in Niger State.
The tragic incident occurred around 11:00 a.m on Tuesday , along the Bida–Agaie Road in the Essan and Badeggi communities, within the Katcha Local Government Area of the state.
According to eyewitnesses, the tanker, which was reportedly conveying petrol from Lagos to the northern part of the country, lost control and overturned, spilling its contents on the road.
In the ensuing chaos, some residents rushed to scoop the leaking fuel before the tanker suddenly exploded, engulfing them in flames.
The explosion, described by rescuers as “massive and terrifying,” left several victims burned beyond recognition.
Emergency responders, including operatives of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and local volunteers, were deployed to evacuate the injured and recover the remains of the dead. The injured were rushed to nearby hospitals for treatment.
The Chairman of the Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) branch of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) in Niger State, Comrade Mohammad Farouk Kawo, who confirmed the casualty figures, described the incident as “devastating and avoidable.”
He lamented that the recurring tanker accidents along the Bida–Agaie route were a result of the deplorable state of the road, calling on the Niger State government under Governor Mohammed Umar Bago to urgently rehabilitate the stretch to prevent further loss of lives.
He sadly told Newsmen that, no fewer than 30 tanker crashes have occurred in the same area this month alone, raising serious safety concerns among motorists and residents.
Pointblankmews.com had reported a similar accident at Dikko community also in Niger State, where scores of lives were lost under similar circumstances.
Then, as now, emphasis was placed on the danger of scooping petrol from fallen tankers. Sadly, many Nigerians appear not to have heeded those warnings.
In fairness to the government, orientation campaigns and repeated public advisories across radio and television have consistently warned citizens to flee scenes of tanker crashes rather than rush in to collect spilled fuel. Yet, despite the loud awareness, the perilous habit persists often with tragic consequences such as Tuesday’s explosion.
Authorities have since cordoned off the scene while rescue and clean-up operations continue.
The Niger State Government is yet to issue an official statement as of the time of filing this report.