A devastating fuel tanker explosion in Nigeria’s north-central Niger State has claimed the lives of at least 86 people, with authorities warning that the death toll could be higher. The explosion occurred in the early hours of Saturday near the Suleja area after individuals attempted to transfer gasoline from a crashed oil tanker into another truck using a generator. The fuel transfer triggered a massive blast, killing those handling the fuel as well as bystanders who had gathered at the scene. The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) confirmed that 55 others sustained serious burns and are currently receiving treatment in three hospitals within the Suleja area.
The magnitude of the explosion left many victims unrecognizable, with officials stating that determining the exact number of casualties would require forensic analysis. According to Hussaini Isah of NEMA, the actual death toll might exceed 86, as several victims were burned beyond recognition. The blast caused significant destruction, with the fire consuming everything in its path, including vehicles, motorcycles, and personal belongings of those at the scene. Witnesses described a horrific scene where flames engulfed the area within seconds, leaving little chance for escape.
The incident drew a large crowd before the explosion, as many people rushed to the site in an attempt to collect fuel from the fallen tanker. Others gathered out of curiosity, taking pictures and observing the situation when the fire suddenly erupted. This practice, although extremely dangerous, has been common in Nigeria, where people see such accidents as an opportunity to collect free fuel for personal use or resale. The desperation to obtain fuel stems from the rising cost of gasoline, which has surged since President Bola Tinubu’s administration removed subsidies on petroleum products more than a year ago. The removal of subsidies was aimed at reallocating resources to infrastructure and other developmental projects, but it has instead led to severe economic hardship for many Nigerians, making fuel unaffordable for large sections of the population.
The rising cost of fuel has forced many to take extreme risks, including attempting to recover spilled gasoline from accident scenes, despite repeated warnings from authorities about the dangers. This is not the first time such a tragedy has occurred, as similar incidents have claimed lives in the past, but desperation and economic struggles continue to drive people to engage in these dangerous activities. Authorities have urged the public to avoid collecting fuel from crash sites, emphasizing the deadly consequences of such actions.
Families of the victims are mourning their losses as emergency responders work to assess the full extent of the disaster. The government is expected to investigate the circumstances surrounding the explosion and explore measures to prevent such incidents in the future. However, without long-term solutions to economic difficulties and fuel affordability, the risk of similar tragedies remains high.
