At least seven people lost their lives on Tuesday evening following a fuel tanker explosion in Karamin Rami village, Mashegu Local Government Area of Niger State.
The blast, which occurred around 6:30 p.m., also left one person injured and caused significant damage to farmland in the community.
According to The PUNCH, eyewitnesses said the tragedy unfolded when a tanker truck, navigating the poor road conditions, overturned and spilled its contents.
The fuel seeped into a nearby stream where dry-season farmers were tending to their rice fields. It is believed that the flammable liquid came into contact with a water pump in use by the farmers, sparking a fire that quickly spread back to the tanker, leading to a massive explosion.
“The fire moved through the contaminated stream, setting crops, vegetation, and several farmers ablaze,” said Abdullahi Baba-Arah, Director General of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency.
The victims have been identified as Rafiatu Sahabi, Ramlat Shehu, Rashida Abdullahi, Raliya Abdulrahman, Zainab Ahmed, Zuwaira Idrisu, and Maryam A. Nura. One woman, Maimuna Isah, sustained injuries and is currently receiving treatment at Saho Rami Primary Health Care Centre.
NSEMA officials visited the site to assess the aftermath of the explosion.
Baba-Arah confirmed that poor road conditions contributed to the accident, saying, “The tanker was trying to maneuver through a bad road when it lost balance and overturned. Unfortunately, the spilled fuel found its way into a water source, igniting the fire that caused the explosion.”
Residents of Karamin Rami are now calling on the government to address the deteriorating roads to prevent similar tragedies in the future. “We have lost lives, farms, and property. If nothing is done, this could happen again,” lamented a local farmer who witnessed the disaster.
