Agaie, Niger State — October 22, 2025:
Tragedy struck on Tuesday morning along the Agaie–Baddegi Road in Niger State when a petrol-laden tanker exploded, killing at least 35 people and injuring about 40 others.
The incident occurred around 11 a.m. near Essa village, shortly after Agaie, when the tanker reportedly overturned and spilled its contents.
Witnesses said many of the victims were villagers and passersby who had rushed to the scene to scoop fuel before the vehicle exploded.
According to eyewitnesses, the explosion was massive, consuming several people and vehicles within the vicinity. “It was a horrifying scene — flames everywhere, and people shouting for help,” a resident told our correspondent.
Confirming the incident, the Niger State Chairman of the Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) branch of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), Comrade Farouk Mohammed Kawo, said dozens of casualties had been recorded. He described the explosion as a tragic reminder of the dangers of scooping fuel from accident sites.
Emergency responders, including officials from the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), the police, and local volunteers, were said to have evacuated the injured to nearby hospitals, while charred remains of the dead were recovered from the scene.
Authorities have since cordoned off the area to prevent further casualties as investigations into the cause of the accident continue.
