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A fuel tanker truck overturned in northern Nigeria on Saturday, spilling fuel that later exploded, killing at least 70 people and injuring several others, according to the country’s National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).
This incident, which took place in Niger state, follows a similar tragedy in Jigawa state last October that resulted in 147 deaths.
“As of now, over 70 bodies have been recovered, 56 people are injured, and more than 15 shops have been destroyed,” NEMA stated.
“The injured individuals have been taken to hospitals, and efforts to recover the bodies of the deceased are ongoing.”
A Reuters reporter witnessed local residents and officials digging graves for the victims, with plans to bury them on Saturday night following Islamic customs. Niger state is predominantly Muslim.
Kumar Tsukwam, the Federal Road Safety Corps sector commander for Niger state, explained that many of the victims were poor locals who had rushed to collect the spilled petrol after the truck overturned.
“A large crowd gathered to scoop up fuel despite efforts to prevent them,” Tsukwam said.
Firefighters were able to extinguish the blaze.
Accidents like this have become common in Nigeria, Africa’s largest oil producer, where the country is facing its worst cost of living crisis in years. Petrol prices have increased by more than 400% since President Bola Tinubu removed a long-standing subsidy in May 2023.
Bologi Ibrahim, spokesperson for Niger state’s governor, urged residents to prioritize their safety when encountering petrol tanker accidents.
