‘Heartbreaking’: More than 60 killed in Nigeria tanker explosion

The decease toll apt to spell up successful the latest tanker detonation successful Africa’s largest system amid rising substance cost.

At slightest 60 radical person been killed and much injured successful a substance tanker detonation successful the Dikko country of Niger State successful bluish Nigeria, according to section authorities.

Kumar Tsukwam, a assemblage commandant for Niger State with the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), said connected Saturday that radical rushed to scoop up the spilled petrol aft the motortruck overturned. “The tanker burst into flames, engulfing different tanker,” helium said successful a statement.

“Most of the victims were burnt beyond recognition,” Tsukwam said. “We are astatine the country to wide things up,” helium said, adding that firefighters had managed to enactment retired the fire.

Mohammed Bago, the Niger governor, confirmed the incidental successful a connection and said that galore radical are believed to person perished successful a immense occurrence caused by the tanker explosion.

He described the incidental arsenic “worrisome, heartbreaking, and unfortunate”.

Tanker accidents common

Such accidents person go communal successful Africa’s largest lipid producer, sidesplitting dozens of radical successful the state grappling with its worst outgo of surviving situation successful a generation.

The terms of petrol successful Nigeria has soared much than 400 percent since President Bola Tinubu scrapped a decades-old subsidy erstwhile helium came into bureau successful May 2023. This has led galore to hazard their lives to retrieve substance during tanker motortruck accidents.

In October 2024, more than 150 radical were killed aft a astir identical incidental took spot successful the Jigawa State besides located successful bluish Nigeria.

About 100 different radical were besides injured successful that incident, with a increasing assemblage approaching an overturned tanker to prime up substance that they could past merchantability successful the achromatic market. Many of the victims were buried unneurotic successful a ample ceremonial organised by the authorities.

People hole bodies for burial, pursuing a tanker detonation successful Majiya town, Nigeria, connected October 16, 2024 [Sani Maikatanga/AP]

In September of the aforesaid year, different 59 radical were killed successful Niger State aft a substance tanker collided with a motortruck carrying passengers and cattle.

After the October incident, Nigerian President Tinubu reaffirmed the government’s committedness to reviewing and enhancing substance proscription information protocols. He besides said constabulary would fortify measures to forestall further accidents, including accrued patrols, stricter enforcement of information regulations, and different road information mechanisms.

Authorities person besides been engaged successful an effort to combat the theft of oil, having improved their information measures including adding gunboats connected important waterways.

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Al Jazeera and quality agencies