The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has confirmed that at least 39 people have died and more than 60 others have sustained severe burns following a petrol tanker explosion in the Essan community, located in the Katcha Local Government Area of Niger State.
According to the agency, the tragic incident occurred at about 3:45 p.m. on Tuesday, October 21, 2025, along the Bida–Badegi–Agaie road. The victims were reportedly among those attempting to scoop fuel from a fallen tanker before it exploded.
Okay News reports that NEMA disclosed the development in a post on its official X handle on Wednesday, stating that its Director-General, Mrs. Zubaida Umar, immediately ordered the Head of the Minna Operations Office, Mr. Hussaini Isah, to activate a response team and provide support to the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA) and other emergency responders.
The agency said a joint rescue operation involving personnel from NEMA, NSEMA, the Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Department of State Services (DSS), and community volunteers was promptly deployed to the scene.
According to NEMA, the injured victims were taken to nearby medical facilities, including Essan Primary Health Centre, Idris Private Hospital, and the Federal Medical Centre, Bida, for urgent treatment.
“The multi-stakeholder rescue team has commenced a detailed assessment of damages in the affected community,” NEMA added.
While expressing condolences to the families of the victims, the Director-General of NEMA, Mrs. Umar, appealed to Nigerians to avoid the dangerous act of scooping fuel from accident scenes, noting that such behaviour has repeatedly caused avoidable deaths and destruction.
She also advised residents and motorists to steer clear of accident sites and to immediately notify emergency agencies for professional intervention.
Governor Mohammed Bago of Niger State has also expressed sympathy to the families of the deceased and those injured in the incident.
Fuel tanker explosions have remained a frequent tragedy in several parts of Nigeria, often caused by the risky attempt to collect spilled fuel from fallen tankers. Similar incidents have been reported in states such as Rivers, Benue, Ogun, and Ondo, resulting in significant loss of lives and property.
Earlier in January 2025, about 50 people were killed in a petrol tanker explosion along the Dikko–Maje Road in Suleja Local Government Area of Niger State. Likewise, in June 2025, another tanker explosion occurred near the NASFAT junction on the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway, injuring two persons and burning six vehicles.
