FUEL TANKER EXPLOSION IN NIGER STATE CLAIMS 7 LIVES, LEAVES FARMLANDS IN RUINS
A devastating fuel tanker explosion occurred in Karamin Rami village, Mashegu Local Government Area of Niger State, claiming the lives of seven people and leaving farmlands in ruins. The incident happened on Tuesday around 6:30 p.m. when a tanker lost control while navigating a bad stretch of road, overturning and spilling its contents onto the road and into a nearby stream. According to reports, the highly flammable fuel mixed with water from the farmers’ pumps and ignited, triggering an explosion that engulfed the area. The resulting inferno spread rapidly, burning crops, fruit vegetation, and some of the farmers caught in its path. The Director General of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency, Abdullahi Baba-Arah, confirmed the identities of the deceased: Rafiatu Sahabi, Ramlat Shehu, Rashida Abdullahi, Raliya Abdulrahman, Zainab Ahmed, Zuwaira Idrisu, and Maryam A. Nura. Another victim, Maimuna Isah, sustained injuries and is receiving treatment at Saho Rami Primary Health Care. Authorities are investigating the incident, while residents are calling for urgent repairs to the deteriorating roads to prevent future tragedies. This incident is a grim reminder of the importance of road maintenance and safety measures to prevent such disasters. It’s worth noting that this incident comes after a similar fuel tanker explosion occurred in Niger State in January 2025, claiming over 100 lives and injuring many more.