The death toll in the latest tanker explosion in Africa’s largest economy is expected to rise amid soaring fuel prices.
At least 60 people have been killed and many more injured after a fuel tanker exploded in the Dakko area of Niger state in northern Nigeria, according to local authorities.
Kumar Sukwamu, the Niger State sector commander with the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), said on Saturday that people rushed to clean up the spilled petrol after the truck overturned. “The tanker caught fire, which engulfed another tanker,” he said in a statement.
“Most of the victims were burnt beyond recognition,” said Sukwamu. “We are at the scene to clear things up,” he said, adding that firefighters had managed to bring the fire under control.
Niger Governor Mohamed Bagou confirmed the incident in a statement, saying that many people were believed to have died in the massive fire caused by the tanker explosion.
He described the incident as “worrying, heartbreaking and unfortunate.”
Tanker Accidents are Common
Such accidents have become common in Africa’s largest oil producer, killing dozens of people in the country, which is grappling with its worst living conditions in a generation.
The price of petrol in Nigeria has risen by more than 400 percent since President Bola Tinubu took office in May 2023 and ended decades-old subsidies. This has led many to risk their lives to collect fuel during tanker truck accidents.
In October 2024, more than 150 people were killed after a similar incident in Jigawa state in northern Nigeria.
About 100 others were also injured in the incident, as a growing crowd rushed to the overturned tanker to collect fuel that they could sell on the black market. Many of the victims were buried together in a mass funeral organized by the authorities.
In September of the same year, another 59 people were killed when a fuel tanker collided with a truck carrying passengers and livestock in Niger State.
Following the October incident, Nigerian President Tinubu reiterated the government’s commitment to reviewing and enhancing safety protocols for fuel transportation. He also said that police would strengthen measures to prevent further accidents, including increased patrols, stricter enforcement of safety regulations, and highway safety procedures.
Authorities are also busy trying to combat oil theft, having beefed up their security measures, including deploying gunboats on key waterways.