Governor Mohammed Bago mourns 35 victims of Niger State tanker explosion, condemning petrol scooping as 17 others remain hospitalised

Niger State tanker explosion has claimed at least 35 lives and left 17 others injured, prompting Governor Mohammed Bago to express deep condolences to the victims’ families.

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In a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Bologi Ibrahim, on Tuesday, Bago described the incident as “worrisome, unfortunate, and pathetic.”

The tragedy occurred around 2:40 p.m. along the Bida–Agaie highway, when a petrol tanker overturned in a lone accident near Essa village, Katcha Local Government Area.

According to Niger State Police Public Relations Officer, Wasiu Abiodun, the crash led to a fire outbreak after residents rushed to the scene to scoop spilled petrol.

“Members of the public living around Essa village rushed to the scene and were scooping PMS when the tanker suddenly went up in flames,” Abiodun said.

He confirmed that 48 people were affected, with 31 dying on the spot and 17 sustaining varying degrees of injuries, adding that three motorcycles were also destroyed in the inferno.

Security operatives and emergency responders were deployed for rescue operations, while investigations are ongoing to identify the tanker’s driver and owner.

Reacting to the disaster, Governor Bago lamented the recurring loss of lives from petrol scooping, urging residents to avoid such dangerous behaviour.

“It is disheartening how people have continued to approach fallen tankers to scoop contents despite repeated warnings,” the governor said.

Bago prayed for the repose of the victims’ souls and a swift recovery for the injured, stressing that citizens must “value their lives no matter the situation.”

The incident adds to Nigeria’s growing record of tanker-related explosions, with similar tragedies claiming hundreds of lives across the country in recent years.

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Earlier this year, over 70 people were killed in a similar incident in Niger State, while a PUNCH Metro investigation revealed that more than 400 Nigerians have died in tanker explosions nationwide over the past year.