Nigeria: Fuel Tanker Explosion Kills At least 48 People In Niger State

A fuel tanker collided with a trailer carrying travellers and cattle, exploded and killed at least 48 people in north-central Nigeria on Sunday, the disaster management agency said.

Several other vehicles were also caught in the accident, it said.

Local media reported that two of the other vehicles—a crane truck and a pickup van—were involved in the accident and caught in the fire.

Abdullah Baba-Arah, Director-General, Niger Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), said the agency received a report of a deadly tanker explosion that occurred on Sunday at about 12:30 am along the Bida-Agaie-Lapai highway.

Baba-Arab said initially 30 bodies were found.

However, in a later statement, he said there were an additional 18 bodies of victims who were burned to death in the collision.

Mr Baba-Arah said two other vehicles—a crane truck and a pickup van—were also involved in the multiple incidents.

Over 50 cattle were also burnt alive.

He said the dead had been given a mass burial.

Mohammed Bago, Governor of Niger state, said residents of the affected area should remain calm and asked road users to “always be cautious and abide by road traffic regulations to safeguard lives and property.”

Source: https://energynewsafrica.com