A tanker explosion occurred on Tuesday afternoon along the Essa axis of the Agaie-Bida Road in Katcha Local Government Area of Niger State, resulting in a significant number of casualties. The incident led to a heavy traffic gridlock on the major road, which was further exacerbated by the poor condition of the road.

According to Hajiya Aishatu Sa’adu, Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Niger State, the incident caused a serious traffic congestion on the expressway. The deplorable state of the road also impacted the response time for the rescue operation.

It is reported that the tanker fell around 11am on Tuesday due to the poor road condition at Essan, about 4km from Badeggi town. Locals gathered to scoop fuel from the fallen tanker, but it exploded around 2pm, injuring at least 40 people. The Director General of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency, Abdullahi Baba Arah, confirmed that 24 people have been confirmed dead, with many more severely injured.

The Chairman of the Tanker Drivers Association in Niger State, Farouk Mohammed Kawo, also confirmed the incident, stating that the tanker was traveling from Lagos to the North when it fell and caught fire. Kawo expressed concern over the frequent accidents on the same road, with over 30 tankers and trailers involved in accidents this month alone. He appealed to the Niger state government to urgently address the poor road condition to prevent further loss of lives and properties.

This incident is not an isolated one, as the Bida-Agaie-Lapai road has a history of similar accidents. Last year, at least 48 people were killed in an explosion on the same road after a petrol tanker collided with a truck. The victims were later given a mass burial in Lapai Local Government. The recurring accidents on this road highlight the need for urgent attention to the road’s condition to prevent further tragedies.