Over 60 killed in Niger’s petrol tanker explosion

More than 60 individuals lost their lives on Saturday in a devastating petrol tanker explosion along the Dikko-Maje Road, near the Badeggi filling station in Suleja Local Government Area of Niger State.

The incident occurred when a tanker carrying Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) overturned and spilled its contents.

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Commander for Niger State, Mr. Kumar Tsukwam, confirmed the explosion, stating that many people gathered to scoop the leaking fuel were caught in the blast, as were some of the rescue workers who attempted to assist the victims.

“The fire spread across a large area, resulting in widespread destruction and leaving several bodies behind,” Tsukwam said. “We have more than 50 fatalities in this tragic incident.”

“Our personnel, in collaboration with other agencies, are actively on-site conducting rescue operations to secure the area,” Tsukwam added.

The explosion occurred around 9:00 am, during an effort to transfer the spilled fuel from the crashed tanker to another vehicle. According to reports, the fuel ignited after coming into contact with a generator being used in the operation.

Alhaji Abdullahi Baba-Arah, Director-General of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), confirmed ongoing efforts to clear the scene and assist the victims.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the blast destroyed property worth millions of Naira, while several others sustained injuries.

Baba-Arah said that rescue teams from NSEMA, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the Suleja Local Government Emergency Committee, and volunteers were actively engaged in search and recovery efforts. He assured that the injured were receiving medical attention, and efforts to recover the bodies of the deceased were underway.

He further appealed to local residents to stay calm and support the emergency teams as they work to manage the aftermath of the disaster.