The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has confirmed that 35 people were killed and 46 others sustained varying degrees of injuries in a tanker explosion that occurred along the Bida–Lapai road, near Badegi, Niger State, on Tuesday, October 21, 2025.
According to the FRSC, the explosion occurred after residents rushed to scoop fuel from a crashed petrol tanker that had overturned on a bad portion of the road.
The tragic incident, which happened around 12:15 p.m., left dozens of victims badly burnt and several properties destroyed.
The corps noted that an eyewitnesses account said the tanker, laden with petrol, lost control while navigating a pothole-ridden section of the highway and overturned by the roadside. Within minutes, scores of people from nearby communities converged on the scene with jerrycans and buckets to collect the spilled fuel.
The dangerous activity triggered an explosion that engulfed the area, killing many instantly.
In a statement issued by the FRSC, the Corps confirmed that its rescue team, led by the Unit Head of Operations, immediately arrived at the scene in collaboration with the Niger State Fire Service, Bida Division.
The joint team worked extinguish the fire and evacuate survivors to nearby hospitals for emergency medical treatment.
The Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, who expressed sorrow over the tragedy, described it as “a needless national disaster born out of ignorance, greed, and disregard for safety warnings.”
He said the loss of lives in such preventable circumstances was heartbreaking and called for a collective national effort to end the recurring menace of fuel scooping.
“No litre of fuel is worth a human life. This unfortunate incident should serve as a painful reminder to Nigerians that approaching or tampering with crashed fuel tankers is a death trap. We cannot continue to lose citizens to tragedies that can easily be avoided,” the Corps Marshal stated.
Mohammed directed all FRSC commands and formations across the country to intensify community-based sensitisation campaigns, particularly in rural and high-risk areas prone to tanker accidents.
He emphasised the need for continuous safety education to discourage residents from engaging in fuel scooping or other hazardous acts at crash scenes.
He further appealed to traditional rulers, religious leaders, and local authorities to support the Corps in spreading safety messages within their communities, noting that grassroots sensitisation remains key to preventing future tragedies.
The Corps also reiterated that most of the high-fatality road incidents recorded in 2024 were not caused by the initial accidents themselves but by subsequent explosions resulting from fuel scooping.
It therefore urged members of the public to promptly report tanker crashes or any incidents involving hazardous materials to the FRSC via its toll-free emergency line, 122, instead of rushing to such scenes.
“The recurring cases of explosions during fuel scooping highlight the urgent need for attitudinal change among the populace. We must prioritise safety over greed and cooperate with law enforcement agencies in ensuring that crash sites are secured to prevent secondary disasters,” the statement added.
The FRSC reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring safer roads and protecting lives through sustained public enlightenment, strict enforcement of safety regulations, and stronger collaboration with stakeholders, including the fire service, emergency management agencies, and traditional institutions.
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