Dozens killed in Niger State tanker blast as fuel scavenging turns deadly again

A fuel tanker explosion in Niger State has killed at least 38 people and injured more than 40 others, the latest in a string of deadly incidents involving people trying to scoop petrol from crashed tankers in Nigeria.

The inferno erupted on Tuesday in Ezza village, Katcha Local Government Area, after a tanker carrying petrol toppled on a bad stretch of the Agaie–Bida highway and began leaking fuel. Witnesses said residents rushed to the scene with buckets and jerrycans to collect petrol despite warnings from passersby. Minutes later, an explosion tore through the crowd.

“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,” said Aishatu Sa’adu, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) commander in Niger State. She confirmed that 35 people died on the spot and 46 others were injured.

Local vigilantes and volunteers were the first responders, pulling out charred bodies and taking survivors to nearby clinics in Badegi and Ezza. “The scene was horrific,” said one resident. “People were burned beyond recognition. Entire families were gone.”

Risky behaviour

Fuel tanker accidents are tragically common in Nigeria, where poor road conditions, inadequate enforcement of transport safety, and poverty push residents to risky behaviour. In January, more than 70 people died in a similar explosion in Dikko, also in Niger State. Several others were killed in separate incidents along the Lapai–Agaie road in the same month. There was also an incident in Jigawa state in October 2024.

Farouk Kawo, chairman of the Niger State Tanker Drivers Association, called the Ezza explosion “devastating and avoidable.” He said the tanker had been traveling from Lagos to northern Nigeria when it crashed. “We have repeatedly warned about the dangers of this road, but nothing has been done. These lives could have been saved if the road was motorable,” he said.

Kawo also condemned the recurring practice of residents scooping fuel from fallen tankers despite past tragedies. “People risk everything for a few litres of petrol. We need stronger awareness and real enforcement,” he said.

As of Wednesday, emergency crews were still clearing the wreckage. Death toll is expected to rise.