NEWS- The Nigerian National Emergency Agency have confirmed that at least 70 people were killed and more injured in northern Nigeria yesterday evening when a petrol tanker truck overturned, spilling fuel that exploded. BREAKING NEWS
The accident in Niger State follows a similar blast in Jigawa state last October that killed 147 people, one of the worst such tragedies in Nigeria.
The National Emergency Management Authority said in a statement that the injured have been transported to hospitals for treatment, while recovery efforts for the deceased are ongoing but the death toll may rise as they are in serious condition.
The Federal Road Safety Corps sector commander for Niger State, Kumar Tsukwam said most of the victims were impoverished residents who had rushed to scoop up the spilled petrol after the truck overturned.
“The injured have been transported to hospitals for treatment, while recovery efforts for the deceased are ongoing,” the statement indicated.
Tsukwam said firefighters had managed to put out the fire and said that such accidents have become common in Africa’s largest oil producer, killing dozens of people in the country grappling with its worst cost of living crisis in a generation.
The price of petrol in Nigeria has soared more than 400% since President Bola Tinubu scrapped a decades-old subsidy when he came into office in May 2023.
The spokesperson for Niger State’s governor, Bologi Ibrahim said residents should give priority to their safety when petrol tanker trucks are involved in accidents.
Additional Reporting from Associated Press.
