A terrible accident struck Karamin Rami village in Mashegu Local Government Area of Niger State on March 4, 2025, around 6:30 p.m. A tanker loaded with fuel was trying to navigate a rough road with no shoulder when it lost control, flipped over, and spilled its flammable cargo—Premium Motor Spirit (PMS)—into a nearby stream. This stream was being used by farmers for irrigation during the dry season.

The disaster started when the spilled fuel reached a working water pump, which sparked a fire. The flames quickly spread back to the tanker, triggering a huge explosion. The fire raced through the stream, swallowing up nearby rice fields and fruit farms. Sadly, farmers working in the area were trapped in the blaze. By the time the fire was put out, seven people had died, and one was badly hurt.

The victims who lost their lives were Rafiatu Sahabi, Ramlat Shehu, Rashida Abdullahi, Raliya Abdulrahman, Zainab Ahmed, Zuwaira Idrisu, and Maryam A. Nura. The only survivor, Maimuna Isah, is being treated for injuries at Saho Rami Primary Health Care Center.

Abdullahi Baba-Arah, the head of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), confirmed the incident in a statement. He blamed the bad road, which made it hard for the tanker driver to steer safely, causing the spill and explosion. Emergency teams and local officials are now on the scene, checking the damage and helping the families affected.

This tragedy shows how badly rural roads need fixing and why there should be tougher rules for transporting fuel. Authorities are expected to dig deeper into what happened and figure out how to stop something like this from happening again.