At least 39 people have been killed in an oil tanker explosion in Nigeria's central Niger state after the vehicle skidded off the road and crashed, spilling fuel. An aid worker, Abdullahi Baba Ara, confirmed that another 60 individuals are receiving medical treatment for varying degrees of injuries.
The tragic incident took place as villagers rushed to collect fuel from the overturned tanker, which suddenly exploded, resulting in a massive fire that engulfed them. Despite repeated warnings about the dangers of collecting spilled fuel, such accidents continue to occur in Nigeria.
The intense blaze rendered many victims unrecognizable, and the injured had to be transported to a nearby hospital for urgent care. The accident took place close to the Essan and Badeggi communities along the Bida-Agaie road in the Katcha Local Government Area.
Niger State Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago expressed his condolences to the victims' families, describing the situation as worrisome, unfortunate, and pathetic. He reiterated the need for public awareness, stating, It is disheartening how people have continued to approach a fallen tanker to scoop its contents.
The tanker was transporting petroleum products from Lagos to the north and reportedly crashed due to poor road conditions – a significant contributor to frequent road accidents in Nigeria. This incident follows other tragic tanker explosions, including one last October that killed 153 in Jigawa state and another in January this year, which claimed at least 86 lives near Suleja.
