.Gov Bago mourns victims
.FRSC calls for caution
From Samson Alfa, Minna
Again, at least 35 persons have been killed and 46 injured in a twist of tragedy that occurred in Niger State when a petrol-laden tanker skidded off the Bida-Agaie Road and exploded as many rushed to the scene of the fallen truck to scoop fuel spilling out it.
The incident occurred yesterday afternoon in Essa village, Katcha Local Government Area of the state.
The ill-fated tanker according to eyewitnesses was conveying fuel from Lagos to an undisclosed destination when it crashed around 11:00.am and exploded moments later.
The victims included residents who rushed to the scene with jerrycans to scoop petrol, passersby, other road users inside vehicles as well as roadside stalls.
Eyewitnesses said the tanker, which was conveying fuel from Lagos to northern Nigeria, crashed around 11 a.m. As the fuel began to leak, some residents rushed to the scene with jerrycans to scoop petrol despite warnings from passersby. Moments later, the tanker exploded, setting off an inferno that consumed everyone nearby, including vehicles and roadside stalls.
AljazirahNigeria gathered that local vigilantes and volunteers from the public were among the first responders.
Charred bodies littered the scene of the tragedy as responders evacuate the injured to nearby health centres in Badeggi Clinic and Essa Dispensary.
The tragedy threw Essa community into a state of sorrow as family members wail and searched for missing loved ones.
Sector Commander, Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, Hajiya Aishatu Sa’adu, confirmed that no fewer than 35 persons died as result of the tanker explosion.
She corroborated eyewitnesses account saying the tragedy happened when some residents attempted to scoop fuel from the fallen tanker, which later exploded.
She noted that, 46 others sustained various degrees of injuries and were evacuated to the Federal Medical Centre, Bida, with the support of FRSC personnel, villagers, and some good Samaritans.
The sector commander explained that preliminary investigations indicated that the accident was a lone crash resulting from loss of control by the tanker driver.
She cautioned motorists to exercise utmost care and adhere to traffic regulations to avoid unnecessary loss of lives.
She said the explosion caused heavy traffic gridlock on the busy Agaie–Bida road and blamed the delay in rescue operations on the deplorable condition of the route.
“The tanker fell due to the bad state of the road, and before rescue teams could arrive, residents had already started scooping fuel. Unfortunately, the tanker exploded, leading to massive casualties”, she said.
In this vein, she warned members of the public against scooping fuel from accident scenes, describing it as a dangerous act that had claimed many lives in the past.
Meanwhile, Niger State Governor, Umar Bago, has commiserated with the people over the petrol tanker explosion that claimed many lives and left several others injured.
Bago, in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Bologi Ibrahim, described the incident as worrisome, unfortunate, and pathetic.
He described the tragedy as “yet another painful and difficult moment for the people and the state government”.
He prayed to Allah to repose the souls of the deceased and grant a speedy recovery to those who sustained injuries.
The governor expressed concern that despite repeated warnings and sensitisation campaigns, some individuals still risk their lives by scooping fuel from fallen tankers.
“It is disheartening, how people continue to approach fallen tankers to scoop fuel despite the dangers involved,
“I urge everyone to value their lives no matter the situation”, the governor advised.
He commended the Niger State Emergency Management Agency, NSEMA, for its prompt intervention and assured that the state government, through relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies, would provide the necessary support to victims and their families.
It would be recalled that on
18 January 2025, a fuel tanker overturned and exploded on the busy Dikko-Maje road near Suleja, Niger State’s commercial nerve centre as local residents gathered to scoop fuel resulting an explosion that killed over 100 people and injured another 69, including at least 52 critically.
On October 15, 2024, a fuel tanker exploded in Majiya, Jigawa State, Nigeria, killing 209 people and injuring 124 others as a crowd of locals gathered to scoop fuel.
Nigeria has been witnessing a circle of such incidents for decades amid sensitisation by relevant authorities among others. But the menace of scooping fuel from fallen tankers or pipelines continues unabated since the October 17, 1998 most devastating of such incidents occurred in Jesse, Delta State with a death toll of 1,082.
