A fuel tanker exploded in Niger state, northern Nigeria, on Saturday, killing at least 70 people and injuring many more. The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) confirmed the tragedy.
This incident follows a similar disaster in Jigawa state last October, where 147 people lost their lives.
NEMA reported that “over 70 bodies have been recovered, 56 people are injured, and more than 15 shops are destroyed.” Rescue teams transported the injured to hospitals, while recovery operations for the deceased are underway.
A Reuters witness saw residents and officials digging graves late on Saturday to bury the victims according to Islamic customs. Niger state is largely Muslim.
Kumar Tsukwam, sector commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps in Niger, said most victims were locals who had rushed to gather the spilled fuel.
“Many people gathered to scoop fuel despite our efforts to stop them,” Tsukwam explained.
Firefighters managed to put out the flames.
Accidents like this have become more frequent in Nigeria, where petrol prices have increased by over 400% since President Bola Tinubu removed the long-standing fuel subsidy in May 2023.
Bologi Ibrahim, spokesperson for the governor of Niger state, urged people to prioritise their safety when encountering accidents involving fuel tankers.
