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At Least 50 Dead In Petrol Tanker Explosion In Niger State
The disaster occurred when a petrol tanker fell, spilling its highly flammable contents. Residents and passersby reportedly gathered to scoop the fuel, unaware of the imminent danger.
Minna, Niger State – A petrol tanker explosion claimed the lives of no fewer than 50 people on Saturday along the Dikko-Maje Road, opposite Badeggi Filling Station, in Suleja Local Government Area.
The Federal Road Safety Commander (FRSC) in Niger, Mr. Kumar Tsukwam, confirmed the incident while addressing journalists in Minna.
He explained that the disaster occurred when a petrol tanker fell, spilling its highly flammable contents. Residents and passersby reportedly gathered to scoop the fuel, unaware of the imminent danger.
“Unfortunately, the flames engulfed those scooping the fuel, and even those who attempted to rescue them were caught in the blaze,” Tsukwam said.
According to him, FRSC personnel, alongside other emergency responders, have been tirelessly working to rescue those trapped in the aftermath of the explosion.
Alhaji Abdullahi Baba-Arah, the Director General of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), provided additional details about the incident, which occurred around 9 a.m. on Saturday.
He revealed that the explosion was triggered during an attempt to transfer Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) from the crashed tanker to another vehicle.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that during the incident, petrol came into contact with a generator being used for a fuel transfer, sparking an explosion that claimed over 50 lives.
Several others sustained injuries, and properties worth millions of Naira were destroyed in the explosion.
According to Baba-Arah, the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), in collaboration with the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the Suleja Local Government Emergency Committee, and volunteers, is actively conducting search, rescue, and recovery operations.
He stated that the injured have been taken to the hospital for treatment, while efforts are ongoing to retrieve the bodies of the deceased.
Baba-Arah urged residents to remain calm and cooperate with emergency responders as they work to address the aftermath of the tragedy.
