At least 70 people were killed and many more injured in northern Nigeria on Saturday after a petrol tanker truck overturned and exploded, according to the country’s National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA). The tragic accident took place in Niger state and follows a similar disaster in Jigawa state last October, which claimed 147 lives.
NEMA confirmed that over 70 bodies had been recovered, with 56 others injured. More than 15 shops were also destroyed in the blast. Emergency responders rushed the injured to hospitals while recovery efforts for the deceased continued. A Reuters witness reported that local residents and officials were digging graves on Saturday night to bury the victims, in line with Islamic customs. Niger is predominantly Muslim.
Federal Road Safety Corps sector commander for Niger state, Kumar Tsukwam, explained that most of the victims were poor locals who rushed to collect the spilled fuel after the tanker overturned, despite warnings to stay away. “A large crowd gathered to scoop fuel despite concerted efforts to stop them,” he said.
Firefighters were able to extinguish the fire, but such accidents are becoming increasingly common in Nigeria, Africa’s largest oil producer. These incidents have claimed dozens of lives, exacerbating the country’s ongoing cost of living crisis, which has worsened since President Bola Tinubu ended a long-standing petrol subsidy in May 2023. The move has caused petrol prices to skyrocket by more than 400%.
Bologi Ibrahim, spokesperson for the Niger state governor, urged residents to prioritize their safety during petrol tanker accidents, emphasizing the risks of rushing to collect spilled fuel.
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