At least 31 people have been killed and 17 others injured after a fuel tanker exploded on Tuesday in Bida, Niger State, north-central Nigeria, police confirmed. According to police spokesperson Wasiu Abiodun, the tanker laden with gasoline overturned and spilled fuel along the Lapai–Bida highway. Dozens of residents rushed to scoop the leaking petrol before the truck suddenly exploded in flames, engulfing nearby people and vehicles. Emergency responders and local volunteers battled the fire for hours, while the injured were rushed to Federal Medical Centre, Bida, and other nearby hospitals. Many of the victims suffered severe burns.
The tragedy adds to a growing list of fuel-related disasters in Niger State, where poor road conditions, lack of a functioning rail network, and frequent tanker accidents have claimed hundreds of lives in recent years. The state is a major route for transporting petroleum products between northern and southern Nigeria. Governor Umaru Bago described the explosion as “another painful and tragic loss,” urging citizens to stay away from fuel spill sites. “It is heartbreaking that people continue to risk their lives collecting petrol from fallen tankers,” he said.
Authorities have launched an investigation to determine the cause of the crash and to trace the driver and owner of the tanker, who reportedly fled the scene. In January 2025, at least 98 people died in a similar explosion in Niger State when locals tried to siphon fuel from a crashed tanker using a generator, which ignited the fire. Fuel scavenging has become increasingly common across Nigeria since President Bola Tinubu’s decision to remove fuel subsidies in 2023, which caused petrol prices to triple. Many Nigerians, struggling with high living costs, resort to dangerous practices like collecting spilled fuel from accident scenes for resale. Road safety and emergency officials have repeatedly warned against such acts, citing frequent explosions that often result in mass casualties.
