Nigeria continues to grapple with a dual crisis of insurgent violence and devastating fuel tanker explosions, underscoring the nation’s ongoing security and safety challenges.
Troops of Operation Hadin Kai were swiftly deployed following an attack by suspected Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) insurgents in Nigeria’s northeastern region. However, by the time they arrived at the scene, the assailants had already vanished into the dense wilderness, taking a captive with them.
According to Sahara Reporters, which confirmed the incident via its official X handle, the insurgents ambushed a vehicle, wounding a passenger and abducting the driver. The injured victim was initially stabilized at the Primary Health Care Center (PHCC) in Banki before being transferred to the General Hospital in Mora, Cameroon, for advanced medical treatment.
This latest assault highlights the persistent security threats plaguing the region, where ISWAP militants continue to target civilians and travelers despite ongoing military operations. Security forces have intensified efforts to track down the perpetrators and secure the release of the abducted driver.
Meanwhile, tragedy struck in Ilorin, the capital of Kwara State, where a fuel tanker explosion claimed multiple lives in the early hours of Friday.
Eyewitnesses described the terrifying scene as flames engulfed vehicles trapped in the inferno. A live video posted on Facebook by Orioye Chanter Ijobaibile showed the raging fire at Iyemanja community, along the expressway in the Okolowo axis.
Orioye, narrating the chaos, said, “People are inside the cars, and it is burning. What is even worrisome is that many other trucks that always carry fuel are passing near the fire. That is risky. They may also catch fire. We are just waiting for security operatives to show up so that they can stop them. People are getting burned inside the fire.”
As of the time of filing this report, emergency responders had yet to arrive at the scene, while the fire continued to spread, threatening more lives and properties.
This devastating explosion comes just weeks after a similar incident in Niger State, where a fuel tanker explosion on a busy highway left multiple people burned to death.
In January, a catastrophic tanker blast near Suleja, Niger State, resulted in at least 98 fatalities and numerous injuries. The tragedy occurred when individuals attempted to siphon gasoline from a crashed tanker using a generator, triggering a massive explosion.
Likewise, in October 2024, a fuel tanker overturned in Majiya, Jigawa State, leading to another horrific explosion. Initial reports placed the death toll at 94, but subsequent updates indicated fatalities could have exceeded 140. The incident, which occurred as locals gathered to collect spilling fuel, also caused extensive property damage.
Fuel tanker explosions have become a recurring nightmare in Nigeria, often linked to poor road conditions, reckless driving, and the absence of stringent safety regulations in fuel transportation. Despite the frequency of these tragedies, authorities have struggled to implement effective preventive measures.
With insurgency still haunting parts of the country and preventable disasters claiming innocent lives, Nigerians continue to ask: When will decisive action be taken to end these cycles of death and destruction?
PIONEER NEWS 