Tragedy in Niger State: Over 38 Dead, Dozens Injured in Fuel Tanker Explosion Along Agaie–Bida Road
Story: written by Zara October 22,2025
At least 38 people have lost their lives and more than 40 others sustained severe burns following a fuel tanker explosion in Ezza village, Katcha Local Government Area of Niger State, on Tuesday.
The disaster happened along the Agaie–Bida highway when a petrol-laden tanker, reportedly traveling from Lagos to northern Nigeria, overturned on a damaged section of the road around 11 a.m. The tanker began leaking fuel, prompting nearby residents to rush to the scene with containers to scoop petrol—despite repeated warnings from bystanders.
Moments later, the tanker exploded, igniting a massive fire that consumed people, vehicles, and roadside shops. Witnesses described a horrifying scene, with bodies burned beyond recognition and survivors crying for help.
Local vigilantes and volunteers were among the first responders, recovering charred remains and rushing the injured to nearby clinics, including Badegi Clinic and Ezza Dispensary.
Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Niger State, Hajiya Aishatu Sa’adu, confirmed the incident, blaming the poor state of the road for the crash and delayed rescue efforts. “The tanker fell due to the deplorable condition of the road. Before rescue teams arrived, people had started scooping fuel, and then the explosion occurred,” she said.
Sa’adu added that FRSC officers were deployed to control traffic and assist with evacuation, but the scale of destruction made operations difficult. She urged motorists to steer clear of the affected area while rescue work continued.
Reacting to the tragedy, Comrade Farouk Kawo, Chairman of the Niger State Tanker Drivers Association and National Ex-Officio of NUPENG, called the incident “a preventable national disaster.” He noted that over 30 tanker accidents had occurred along the same route in October alone, attributing them to the deteriorating state of the road.
“We’ve consistently warned about the dangers of this highway, yet nothing has been done. This catastrophe could have been avoided if the road was in good condition,” Kawo said. He also condemned residents’ continued practice of scooping fuel from accident scenes despite past fatal explosions.
He appealed to Governor Umaru Bago to urgently rehabilitate the Agaie–Bida road and work with federal agencies to strengthen safety enforcement for tanker drivers and highway users.
As of press time, the Niger State government had yet to release an official casualty figure, while emergency teams continued clearing debris from the site.
The explosion once again underscores Nigeria’s twin crises of collapsing infrastructure and public negligence—problems that have repeatedly turned preventable road accidents into deadly infernos.
