A devastating tanker explosion occurred on March 4, 2025, in Karamin Rami village, Mashegu Local Government Area of Niger State, around 6:30 p.m. The tragedy unfolded when a fuel-laden tanker, navigating a poorly maintained road without a shoulder, lost balance and overturned, spilling its highly flammable Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) into a nearby stream.
The stream, used by dry-season farmers for irrigation, became the ignition point for the disaster when the spilled fuel came into contact with a running water pump. The pump sparked a fierce fire outbreak that quickly spread back to the overturned tanker, causing a massive explosion.
The flames rapidly spread through the fuel-contaminated stream, consuming nearby rice fields and fruit plantations. Tragically, several farmers working in the area were caught in the inferno. By the time the fire was brought under control, seven lives had been lost, and one person sustained severe injuries.
The deceased victims were identified as Rafiatu Sahabi, Ramlat Shehu, Rashida Abdullahi, Raliya Abdulrahman, Zainab Ahmed, Zuwaira Idrisu, and Maryam A. Nura. The sole survivor, Maimuna Isah, is currently receiving treatment at Saho Rami Primary Health Care Center.
The Director General of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), Abdullahi Baba-Arah, confirmed the incident in an official statement. He attributed the tanker spill and subsequent explosion to the poor state of rural roads, which forced the driver into dangerous maneuvers.
Emergency responders and local authorities have been deployed to assess the damage and provide support to affected families.
This incident underscores the urgent need for road rehabilitation in rural communities and stricter safety regulations for fuel transportation. Authorities are expected to conduct further investigations and implement measures to prevent similar disasters.
The tragedy comes just weeks after a similar tanker explosion in January claimed multiple lives and left several others injured.