In brief
An oil tanker exploded in Niger State, Nigeria, after skidding off the road, resulting in at least 30 fatalities and numerous injuries. Villagers gathered to collect spilled fuel when the tragedy struck, highlighting ongoing safety concerns related to fuel transportation in the region. Nigerian authorities are investigating the incident while emphasizing the dangers of collecting fuel from overturned vehicles.
Dozens of 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.
Villagers rushed to collect fuel from the overturned tanker which suddenly exploded, setting off a massive fire that engulfed them. About 30 people reportedly died, while at least 40 others sustained varying degrees of injuries.
The intense blaze burned many victims beyond recognition, and the injured were taken to a nearby hospital for treatment.
Tanker explosions are a recurring tragedy in Nigeria, despite repeated warnings about the dangers of collecting spilled fuel.
The accident occurred near the Essan and Badeggi communities along the Bida-Agaie road in the Katcha Local Government Area of Niger state.
Nigeria's Federal Road Safety Corps agency was quoted by the Reuters news agency as saying that at least 35 people had been killed in the crash, while a local coordinator for the National Emergency Management Agency (Nema) told the AFP news agency there were 29 dead and 42 injured.
Nema officials told the BBC that they were responding to the incident but were unable to confirm the number of people affected.
Niger State Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago sent his condolences to the people, describing the incident as worrisome, unfortunate and pathetic. [It] is disheartening how people have continued to approach a fallen tanker to scoop its contents despite several awareness campaigns, said a statement by his chief press secretary Bologi Ibrahim.
The tanker, carrying petroleum products from Lagos in southern Nigeria to the north, is said to have crashed due to the bad condition of the road. Poor road conditions are a major contributor to road accidents in the country. In October last year, a fuel tanker explosion killed 153 people in Jigawa state, and in January this year, another truck accident in Niger state led to at least 86 fatalities. This alarming trend raises serious concerns over safety practices in transporting hazardous materials in Nigeria.
