Seven feared dead as another Tanker explosion hits Niger

At least seven people lost their lives in a tragic explosion involving a petrol tanker in Karamin Rami village, Mashegu Local Government Area of Niger State.

The incident occurred on Thursday, March 4, 2025, at about 6:30 p.m.

According to a statement issued in Minna by the Director-General of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), Alhaji Abdullahi Baba Arah, the tanker was attempting to navigate the bad road when it lost balance and toppled over. Its content, Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), spilled into a nearby stream where dry-season farmers were tending to their rice fields.

The statement explained that the fuel came in contact with a water pump in use at the farm, sparking a fire that quickly spread back to the tanker and triggered an explosion. The resulting inferno flowed back into the farmland through the contaminated stream, burning farmers and destroying crops, including fruit vegetation.

Seven people were confirmed dead, while one person sustained injuries. The deceased were identified as Rafiatu Sahabi, Ramlat Shehu, Rashida Abdullahi, Raliya Abdulrahman, Zainab Ahmed, Zuwaira Idrisu, and Maryam A. Nura. The injured victim, Maimuna Isah, is currently receiving treatment at Saho Rami Primary Health Care.