Tears and Flames: How a Desperate Search for Fuel Ended in Tragedy in Niger State
The bustling Essan community in Niger State has been thrown into mourning after a petrol tanker explosion turned a quiet Tuesday afternoon into a scene of horror — claiming 39 lives and leaving over 60 people battling for survival.
The tragedy unfolded around 3:45 p.m. on October 21, 2025, along the Bida–Badegi–Agaie road in Katcha Local Government Area, when a tanker carrying petrol overturned.
Moments later, residents including men, women, and children rushed to the scene to scoop fuel. Then came the deafening explosion that tore through the crowd.
By the time the fire died down, charred bodies and twisted metal littered the ground. Those who survived were left with burns so severe that rescuers struggled to identify them.
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) confirmed the disaster in a statement on Wednesday, describing it as “a heartbreaking and avoidable loss.”
According to NEMA’s Director-General, Mrs. Zubaida Umar, the agency swiftly mobilised an emergency response team from its Minna Operations Office, led by Mr. Hussaini Isah.
Working with the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), police, civil defence, FRSC, DSS, and community volunteers, the team battled through flames and chaos to rescue victims and ferry them to nearby hospitals.
“The injured were taken to the Essan Primary Health Centre, Idris Private Hospital, and the Federal Medical Centre in Bida,” NEMA said, adding that a detailed damage assessment was underway.
Mrs. Umar, while consoling grieving families, issued a stern warning against the recurring practice of scooping fuel from accident scenes — a habit that continues to cost innocent lives.
“We cannot keep losing our people to greed and ignorance,” she said. “Please, stay away from crash sites and let trained responders handle such emergencies.”
Niger State Governor, Mohammed Bago, described the explosion as a “dark and painful day” for the State. He expressed condolences to the victims’ families and assured that the government would support those undergoing treatment.
Sadly, the Essan explosion adds to a long list of fuel-related disasters across Nigeria. In January 2025, at least 50 people perished when a petrol tanker exploded along the Dikko–Maje Road in Suleja.
In June, another tanker blast near the NASFAT junction on the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway injured two people and burnt six vehicles.
As emergency workers clear the debris in Essan, the air is thick with grief and disbelief. For many survivors, the cries of lost loved ones and the sight of burning homes will linger far longer than the smoke that once filled their sky.
