At least 70 people lost their lives on Saturday in central Nigeria when a fuel tanker overturned and exploded, igniting a deadly fire as crowds gathered to collect the spilled gasoline.
The incident occurred at the Dikko junction on the highway linking the federal capital Abuja to Kaduna in Niger State, according to Kumar Tsukwam, head of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in the state.
“The death toll stands at 70 so far,” Tsukwam told AFP, adding that many victims were burned beyond recognition. The tanker, which carried 60,000 liters of gasoline, flipped around 10:00 am local time, leading to the tragic explosion.
A statement from the FRSC detailed that a large crowd had gathered to scoop up the fuel when the tanker suddenly burst into flames, engulfing a second tanker nearby. “So far, 60 corpses have been recovered from the scene, and the victims are mostly scavengers,” the agency noted.
Niger State Governor Umaru Bago described the event as “worrisome, heartbreaking and unfortunate” in a statement. He urged citizens to prioritize their safety and avoid dangerous actions, even amid economic challenges.
This tragic explosion underscores the economic crisis in Nigeria, where the price of gasoline has increased fivefold in the past 18 months following the removal of a fuel subsidy by President Bola Tinubu shortly after his election. Inflation has soared to over 30%, exacerbating poverty and food insecurity across the country.
With essentials becoming increasingly unaffordable, many Nigerians have resorted to dangerous practices like scavenging fuel from tanker accidents, a perilous yet common occurrence. In 2020 alone, the FRSC reported 1,531 fuel tanker accidents that claimed over 535 lives.
Saturday’s tragedy is a grim reminder of previous incidents, including a similar explosion in Jigawa State last October that killed over 170 people. Experts warn that unless underlying economic conditions improve, such devastating accidents may continue.
Authorities have cleared the site of Saturday’s explosion as investigations continue into the circumstances surrounding the incident.
