BBC Photo: Tanker explosions are a recurring tragedy in Nigeria
Source: BBC News
DST News: At least 30 people have been killed and more than 40 injured after an oil tanker overturned and exploded in Nigeria’s central Niger State, authorities confirmed on Tuesday.
The accident occurred when the tanker, transporting petroleum products from Lagos to northern Nigeria, skidded off the road and crashed along the Bida–Agaie highway near the Essan and Badeggi communities in the Katcha Local Government Area.
Witnesses said villagers rushed to scoop up fuel leaking from the overturned tanker before it suddenly erupted in a massive explosion, engulfing dozens of people in flames. Many victims were burned beyond recognition, while the injured were taken to nearby hospitals for emergency treatment.
According to conflicting reports, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) told Reuters that 35 people were confirmed dead, whereas the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) told AFP that 29 people had died and 42 were injured. NEMA officials told the BBC that rescue operations were ongoing but casualty figures remained uncertain.
Niger State Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago expressed his condolences, calling the tragedy “worrisome, unfortunate, and pathetic.” In a statement issued by his press secretary Bologi Ibrahim, the governor lamented that despite repeated public warnings, people continue to risk their lives collecting spilled fuel from fallen tankers.
“It is disheartening how people still approach a fallen tanker to scoop its contents,” the statement read, urging stronger public awareness and enforcement to prevent such disasters.
Officials blamed the poor condition of the road for the crash — a recurring factor in Nigeria’s frequent road tragedies.
Tanker explosions are a common and deadly occurrence in the country. In October last year, 153 people were killed in a similar incident in Jigawa State, while in January, another tanker accident near Suleja in Niger State claimed at least 86 lives and injured nearly 70 others.
The latest tragedy underscores Nigeria’s ongoing road safety crisis — a deadly mix of poor infrastructure, fuel transport risks, and public desperation amid widespread poverty.
