How Eight Family Members, 20 Others Died in Niger Tanker Explosion

By Emmanuel Kwada

A catastrophic petrol tanker explosion along the Agaie–Bida road in Katcha Local Government Area has left a community in mourning, with eight members of one family among the 28 confirmed fatalities.

The incident, which occurred around 2 p.m. on Tuesday, has been described as a preventable tragedy fueled by the perilous practice of scooping fuel from fallen tankers.

Mallam Surajo Muhammad Shehu, a grieving resident, recounted the devastating loss of eight relatives, including his elder sister, Hawawu Dauda, who was buried shortly after the explosion.

Three of her daughters remain in critical condition at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) in Bida. “This tragedy will haunt our community forever,” Shehu told DAILY TRUST, his voice heavy with sorrow.

People Scooping fuel before tanker engulfed by fire

He revealed that his elder brother, initially thought to be manageable at home, was rushed to the hospital on Wednesday morning as his condition deteriorated.

The explosion occurred after a tanker, compromised by the deplorable state of the Agaie–Bida road, overturned and spilled fuel, attracting villagers eager to collect it.

Eyewitnesses described harrowing scenes: a nursing mother and her baby, strapped to her back, perished in the flames, their screams echoing until the fire consumed them. Others ran, engulfed in flames, before collapsing in nearby bushes, where more bodies may yet be found.

Even after this tragedy, some would still scoop fuel tomorrow

The Village Head of Essa, Alhaji Adamu Bagudu, who lost two wives and two children of his younger brother in the blaze, confirmed that 24 victims—mostly women—were buried in a mass ceremony on Tuesday, with four more laid to rest on Wednesday.

“Of the 28 buried, only four were men,” Bagudu said, noting that some victims were travelers caught in the inferno. He lamented the community’s failure to heed his repeated warnings against fuel scooping, a practice he has campaigned against for three years, citing a similar explosion on September 9, 2024, that killed 61 people.

The Wreckages

Shehu echoed this frustration, blaming poverty and the lure of “free money” for driving residents to risk their lives. “Even after this tragedy, some would still scoop fuel tomorrow,” he said, pointing to a recent incident where villagers collected engine oil from another fallen tanker just days before. One woman, who sold oil worth N1 million from that spill, lost her life in Tuesday’s explosion.

The Agaie–Bida road’s poor condition has been a recurring factor in such tragedies, crippling local economic activities and claiming over 150 lives in recent years, according to Bagudu.

He and other residents pleaded for urgent reconstruction, a call echoed by the House of Representatives, which urged the Federal Ministry of Works and FERMA to rehabilitate the road immediately.

The Northern States Governors’ Forum, led by Gombe State Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, expressed deep sorrow and called for stricter safety regulations for petroleum transport and public awareness campaigns.

A nursing mother and her baby, strapped to her back, perished in the flames

The Niger State Emergency Management Agency assured victims of support, while the Chief Medical Director of FMC Bida, Dr. Abubakar Usman, reported that 80 people were affected, with 17 severely burned victims transferred to Abuja for advanced care.

The tragedy has also highlighted tensions between residents and tanker drivers, who accuse locals of exploiting accidents to steal fuel. Despite warnings, the illegal trade persists, with black marketers fueling a cycle of dangerous profiteering.

As Essa village buries its dead and cares for the injured, the incident serves as a grim reminder of the urgent need for road repairs, stricter safety enforcement, and community education to prevent further loss of life.

A tragic accident has occurred in Niger state along the Essa axis of the Agaie–Bida Road, where a tanker loaded with petroleum products burst into flames, claiming several lives and leaving the community in deep mourning. pic.twitter.com/AEsQ7QPXu9

— Muhammed Sodangi 🇳🇬 (@mufc_young) October 21, 2025

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