Fuel tanker explosion kills dozens in northern Nigeria

At least 70 people were killed, and many others injured when a fuel tanker exploded after overturning in northern Nigeria on Saturday. The explosion occurred at the Dikko junction, linking the federal capital Abuja to the northern city of Kaduna, at around 10:00 am (0900 GMT).

Kumar Tsukwam, the head of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Niger State, confirmed that the tanker was carrying 60,000 liters of gasoline.

The explosion occurred after a large crowd gathered to scoop fuel that had spilled onto the road. “Most of the victims were burnt beyond recognition,” Tsukwam said, adding that rescue operations are ongoing.

The explosion took place when the tanker collided with another vehicle while attempting to transfer the fuel. During this operation, the petrol came into contact with a generator, triggering the blast that resulted in numerous casualties. “So far, 60 corpses have been recovered from the scene. The victims are mostly scavengers,” an FRSC statement read.

Fuel crisis in Nigeria

The incident comes amid an ongoing economic crisis in Nigeria, where fuel prices have risen sharply since President Bola Tinubu abolished the fuel subsidy shortly after his election.

This move has led to skyrocketing fuel prices, which increased fivefold in just 18 months, prompting people to risk their lives to collect fuel during such accidents.

The incident has been described as “worrisome, heartbreaking, and unfortunate” by Niger State Governor Umaru Bago. He also noted that several others sustained various degrees of burns. The explosion resulted in significant property damage, with millions of naira in losses.

This explosion follows a similar tragedy in October when more than 170 people died in a fuel tanker explosion in Jigawa State. In 2020, the FRSC recorded 1,531 fuel tanker accidents, which claimed over 535 lives.