Explosion from Fuel Tanker Collision in Nigeria Claims At Least 48 Lives
ABUJA – A devastating explosion occurred on Sunday in Nigeria after a fuel tanker collided head-on with another truck in the Agaie area of north-central Niger state. The explosion resulted in the deaths of at least 48 people, according to the country’s emergency response agency. The fuel tanker, which was also transporting cattle, led to the tragic death of at least 50 animals that were burned alive in the fire.
Search and rescue operations are currently underway at the accident site. Initially, 30 bodies were recovered, but an additional 18 victims who were burned in the explosion were later found. The deceased have since been given a mass burial. Abdullahi Baba-Arab, director-general of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency, confirmed these details and highlighted the ongoing efforts to manage the aftermath of the collision.
Governor Mohammed Bago of Niger state has urged residents to remain calm and called on road users to adhere to traffic regulations to prevent such tragedies. He also noted that the lack of an efficient railway system for cargo transport contributes to the frequency of fatal truck accidents in Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country. In 2020 alone, there were 1,531 gasoline tanker crashes in Nigeria, resulting in 535 fatalities and 1,142 injuries, according to Nigeria’s Federal Road Safety Corps.
