Samuel Omang
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has confirmed that no fewer than 39 people lost their lives while more than 60 others sustained severe burns following a petrol tanker explosion in Essan community, Katcha Local Government Area of Niger State.
The tragic incident occurred around 3:45 p.m. on Tuesday, October 21, 2025, along the Bida–Badegi–Agaie road when residents reportedly rushed to scoop fuel from a fallen tanker before it exploded.
NEMA, in a statement posted on its official X handle on Wednesday, said the victims included men, women, and children. The agency added that its Director-General, Mrs. Zubaida Umar, immediately ordered the deployment of an emergency response team from the Minna Operations Office to the scene to assist the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA) and other responders.
According to NEMA, the multi-agency rescue operation involved officials of the Police, NSCDC, FRSC, DSS, local vigilantes, and community volunteers. The injured victims were evacuated to nearby health facilities, including the Essan Primary Health Centre, Idris Private Hospital, and the Federal Medical Centre, Bida, for emergency treatment.
Umar expressed condolences to the families of the deceased and urged Nigerians to desist from the dangerous practice of scooping fuel from accident tankers. She noted that such acts have repeatedly led to avoidable tragedies across the country.
Meanwhile, Governor Mohammed Bago of Niger State has also commiserated with the victims’ families and directed that relief materials be provided to the affected community.
Fuel tanker explosions have continued to claim lives in Nigeria due to unsafe handling of petroleum products. In January 2025, a similar explosion in Suleja, Niger State, killed at least 50 people, while several others were injured in related incidents in Rivers, Benue, and Ogun states in recent years.