Several people were feared dead on Tuesday following a petrol tanker explosion along the Essa axis of the Agaie–Bida Road in Niger State.
The tragic incident reportedly happened in the afternoon and caused a major traffic gridlock on the busy highway.
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Niger State confirmed the explosion but said the exact number of casualties could not be determined as of press time.
The Sector Commander, Hajiya Aishatu Sa’adu, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that officers of the corps were already on the ground carrying out rescue operations.
She explained that the accident had severely disrupted movement along the road, leaving many vehicles stranded for hours.
Rescue efforts hampered by bad road
According to Sa’adu, the poor state of the Agaie–Bida expressway made it difficult for emergency responders to reach the scene quickly. “The deplorable condition of the road has affected response time and made the rescue operation more challenging,” she said.
Eyewitnesses reported that the explosion was massive, with thick smoke billowing into the sky as locals and motorists tried to flee for safety.
Some residents who rushed to help were said to have sustained injuries while attempting to rescue victims trapped in the fire.
Security officials, including the police and fire service personnel, later arrived to assist in controlling the fire and managing the traffic situation.
The Agaie–Bida–Lapai road has been a regular scene of fatal accidents in recent years. In 2024, at least 48 people died when a petrol tanker collided head-on with a truck carrying passengers and livestock from Kano State. The victims, who were burnt beyond recognition, were later buried in a mass grave in Lapai Local Government Area.
Residents have repeatedly called on the federal and state governments to repair the highway, describing it as a “death trap.”
Many motorists also complain that the bad portions of the road have contributed to frequent accidents involving heavy-duty vehicles.
As of Tuesday evening, officials of the FRSC were still at the scene of the latest explosion, working with local authorities to clear the wreckage and restore normal traffic flow.
