Minna, Nigeria — At least 39 people have been killed and over 60 others severely burned following a massive petrol tanker explosion in Niger State, central Nigeria.
The tragic incident occurred around 3:45 PM local time on Tuesday, October 21, 2025, along the busy Bida–Badegi–Agaie road, according to Nigeria’s National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).
The victims, which included men, women, and children, were reportedly attempting to scoop fuel from the tanker after it had fallen—a dangerous and often fatal practice common at accident scenes across the country.
Emergency Response and Fatal Warnings
NEMA confirmed the fatality figures in a post on Wednesday, stating that its Director-General, Zubaida Umar, immediately deployed a rescue team to the scene.
A multi-stakeholder rescue team, working alongside the State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), police, and local volunteers, evacuated the more than 60 injured victims to nearby health facilities, including the Federal Medical Centre in Bida, for emergency treatment. A detailed assessment of the damage in the Essan community in Katcha Local Government Area is now underway.
NEMA’s Director-General issued a stern warning to the public to “desist from scooping fuel” from accident tankers, stressing that such acts repeatedly result in avoidable deaths and destruction.
Fuel tanker explosions have become a recurring tragedy in Nigeria, particularly linked to the high-risk scavenging practice. Similar incidents have claimed dozens of lives in states like Rivers, Benue, and Ogun in recent years, including a major explosion in Niger State in January 2025 that killed at least 50 people.
Niger State Governor Mohammed Bago has expressed his condolences to the families of those who perished in the latest disaster.
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