Niger State Governor Mohammed Umar Bago has expressed deep sorrow over the death of 35 people who lost their lives in a tanker explosion that occurred along the Bida-Agaie highway on Monday afternoon.
In a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Bologi Ibrahim, the governor described the tragic incident as “worrisome, unfortunate, and pathetic.”
According to reports, the accident happened around 2:40 p.m., when a tanker carrying Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), also known as petrol, fell on its side near Essa village in Katcha Local Government Area.
The Niger State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Wasiu Abiodun, confirmed that after the accident, some residents trooped to the scene to scoop petrol from the fallen tanker before it burst into flames.
“Sadly, forty-eight persons were affected by the fire, thirty-one lost their lives on the spot, while others sustained varying degrees of injuries and were rushed to nearby hospitals,” Abiodun said.
“Three motorcycles were also burnt during the inferno.”
He added that security operatives were deployed to the area to assist with rescue operations, and an investigation is ongoing to trace the tanker’s driver and owner.
Governor Bago’s Reaction
Reacting to the tragedy, Governor Bago prayed for the repose of the victims’ souls and urged residents to learn from repeated fatal incidents involving petrol scooping.
“It is heartbreaking that people continue to approach fallen tankers to scoop fuel despite numerous public warnings,” he said.
“I pray that Allah grants eternal rest to the dead and quick recovery to the injured. Our people must learn to value their lives no matter the situation.”
The governor described the act of fuel scooping as “a deadly and needless risk,” and directed state agencies to intensify public sensitization on the dangers associated with such behavior.
Recurring Tragedy
This latest explosion adds to the growing number of tanker-related disasters across Nigeria. In January 2025, at least 70 people died in a similar explosion while scooping petrol from a crashed tanker in Niger State.
A recent PUNCH Metro investigation also revealed that over 400 Nigerians have died in tanker explosions nationwide within the past year, prompting the Federal Government to launch a national awareness campaign on the risks of petrol scooping and unsafe road practices.
