- Safiu Kehinde
No fewer than 24 people have been confirmed dead with 40 others injured in petrol tanker explosion along Essa axis of the Agaie–Bida Road in Katcha Local Government Area of Niger State.
The tragic incident reportedly occurred on Tuesday afternoon after a petrol-laden tanker fell due to the deplorable state of the road around 11 a.m. near Essan village, about 4km from Badeggi town.
Locals were said to have rushed to the scene to scoop fuel before the tanker exploded around 2 p.m., resulting in massive casualties.
Confirming the incident, the Niger State Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Hajiya Aishatu Sa’adu, said the final casualty figure was still being compiled.
The poor road condition and heavy traffic reportedly delayed emergency response efforts.
However, the Director General of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), Abdullahi Baba Arah, confirmed that 24 bodies have been recovered while 40 people sustained severe burns.
The injured have been taken to the Federal Medical Centre, Bida, for treatment.
According to report, Farouk Mohammed Kawo, Chairman of the Tanker Drivers Association, Niger State Chapter, confirmed that the tanker was en route from Lagos to northern Nigeria before the accident.
He lamented that over 30 tanker and trailer crashes have occurred on the same road this month alone, calling on Governor Mohammed Umar Bago to urgently rehabilitate the route to prevent further tragedies.