The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has confirmed that 35 people lost their lives while 46 others sustained varying degrees of injuries in a tragic tanker explosion along the Bida–Lapai road, near Badegi, Niger State, on Tuesday.
According to the Corps, the victims were burnt beyond recognition after attempting to scoop fuel from a crashed tanker.
In a statement released Tuesday evening, the FRSC described the incident as a “needless national tragedy” resulting from ignorance, greed, and disregard for safety warnings.
The FRSC rescue team at the scene reported that the crash occurred around 12:15 p.m. when a tanker loaded with Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) lost control on a bad portion of the road and overturned. Moments later, some residents trooped to the scene to collect fuel from the fallen tanker before the inflammable substance exploded, igniting a massive fire that killed 35 people and injured 46 others.
Rescue operations were carried out by the FRSC in collaboration with the Niger State Fire Service, Bida Division, which battled to extinguish the flames and evacuate the injured to nearby hospitals.
FRSC Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, while commiserating with the victims’ families, warned Nigerians against approaching or tampering with crash scenes involving tankers or other flammable materials.
“This is not just an accident; it is a painful reminder that every time people ignore safety warnings and rush to scoop fuel, they gamble with their lives. No litre of petrol is worth a human life,” he said.
Mohammed directed all FRSC commands nationwide to intensify grassroots sensitisation, particularly in rural and high-risk areas, to curb the dangerous practice of fuel scooping. He also urged traditional rulers, religious leaders, and community heads to partner with the Corps in raising awareness on the dangers of such behaviour.
The statement further noted that most of the fatal road crashes recorded in 2024 were linked to incidents of fuel scooping rather than the crashes themselves.
The FRSC reaffirmed its commitment to promoting road safety through continuous public education, strict enforcement, and stakeholder collaboration.
It also appealed to motorists and residents along major highways to promptly report any crash involving tankers or hazardous materials via the Corps’ toll-free emergency number 122, instead of taking reckless actions that could result in avoidable deaths.
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