At least 70 individuals lost their lives and many others sustained injuries in Niger state, northern Nigeria, on Saturday due to an overturned petrol tanker truck that leaked fuel, which subsequently ignited, according to the national emergency agency.
This incident in Niger state mirrors a tragic explosion in Jigawa state last October that resulted in 147 fatalities, marking one of the most devastating events of its kind in Nigeria.
The National Emergency Management Authority reported, “As of this update, over 70 bodies have been recovered, 56 people are injured, and more than 15 shops have been destroyed.”
The injured victims have been taken to hospitals for medical care, while efforts to recover the deceased continue.
A witness noted that local residents and officials were preparing graves to bury the victims on Saturday night, adhering to Islamic customs. Niger is predominantly a Muslim state in Africa’s most populous country.
Earlier, Kumar Tsukwam, the sector commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps for Niger state, indicated that many of the victims were impoverished locals who rushed to collect the spilled petrol after the truck overturned.
“A large crowd gathered to scoop up the fuel despite our attempts to dissuade them,” Tsukwam stated.
He also mentioned that firefighters successfully extinguished the blaze. Such incidents have become increasingly frequent in Africa’s largest oil producer, resulting in numerous fatalities amid the nation’s most severe cost of living crisis in a generation.
Since President Bola Tinubu eliminated a long-standing subsidy upon taking office in May 2023, petrol prices in Nigeria have surged by over 400%.
Bologi Ibrahim, the spokesperson for the governor of Niger state, urged residents to prioritize their safety in the event of accidents involving petrol tanker trucks.
