Petrol tanker on fire
Death toll from Tuesday’s devastating tanker explosion in Essa community, Katcha Local Government Area of Niger State, has climbed to 42, with more than 60 others nursing varying degrees of burns.
The incident occurred on October 21, 2025, after a petrol-laden tanker lost control and overturned along the dilapidated Bida–Badeggi–Agaie Road. Moments later, the vehicle exploded, reportedly as residents rushed to scoop fuel from the wreckage.
Officials of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) confirmed the casualty figures, revealing that among the dead were nine men, 24 women, and nine children.
Those injured include 20 men, seven women, and seven children.
Emergency teams comprising personnel from NEMA, the police, DSS, NSCDC, FRSC, and local volunteers quickly responded to the scene, aiding rescue efforts and transporting victims to nearby health facilities, including Essa Primary Health Centre, Idris Private Hospital, and the Federal Medical Centre in Bida.
Some residents remain unaccounted for as search and rescue operations continue.
Head of NEMA Operations for Niger and Kwara States, Hussaini Isah, assured the public that efforts were ongoing and further updates would follow.
“Our teams are still on ground, working to recover more victims and support the injured,” he said.
Eyewitnesses described a chaotic and heartbreaking scene. Surajo Mohammed, who witnessed the explosion, recounted:
“Around noon, the tanker tipped over near Essa and Badeggi. People rushed with buckets and jerrycans to collect fuel. The driver was reportedly angry and may have sparked the fire himself. The explosion was massive. Many couldn’t escape.”
The incident has reignited public outrage over the appalling state of the Bida–Badeggi–Agaie Road, a vital yet long-neglected highway. Residents say the poor condition of the road directly contributed to the crash.
Community leader Ibrahim Gaawu didn’t mince words, calling the road a “death trap.”
According to him, “This road was built in 1923 and hasn’t seen proper reconstruction in decades, despite funds being allocated. We’re begging President Bola Tinubu’s administration to take urgent action. Too many lives have been lost already.”
So far, at least 28 victims have been buried, with more expected in the coming days as families search for missing loved ones.
Essa and surrounding communities continue to demand an immediate overhaul of the road, warning that without government intervention, more preventable tragedies are inevitable.
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