70 Killed in Nigeria Petrol Tanker Explosion

Lagos: A petrol tanker explosion in central Nigeria on Saturday has claimed the lives of at least 70 people, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) confirmed. The tragedy occurred after the tanker overturned, spilling 60,000 liters of gasoline, which ignited as people gathered to collect the fuel.

Kumar Tsukwam, head of the FRSC in Niger State, described the scene as devastating. “The death toll stands at 70 so far. Most of the victims were burnt beyond recognition,” Tsukwam told Agence France-Presse (AFP) over the phone. The explosion happened around 10:00 am local time (0900 GMT) at the Dikko junction, a major roadway connecting the federal capital Abuja to the northern city of Kaduna.

Emergency responders have been deployed to the site to clear debris and assist survivors. An undisclosed number of people suffered severe burns and were rushed to nearby hospitals for treatment. The incident underscores the dangerous trend of fuel gathering in Nigeria, where gasoline prices have surged fivefold in the past 18 months due to an ongoing economic crisis. Many risk their lives scavenging for fuel from overturned tankers to alleviate their financial struggles.

Niger State Governor Umaru Bago called the incident “worrisome, heartbreaking, and unfortunate” in an official statement, expressing condolences to the affected families and urging caution during such accidents.

This tragedy is not an isolated case. In October, over 170 people lost their lives in a similar incident in Jigawa State, highlighting the recurring danger posed by petrol tanker accidents in Africa’s most populous country.