Nigeria: Over 50 dead in devastating fuel tanker explosion after crash

A tragic accident occurred in Nigeria on Sunday when a fuel tanker collided head-on with another truck, causing a massive explosion that left at least 50 people dead, according to the country’s emergency response agency. The incident took place in the Agaie area of north-central Niger state. Along with the human casualties, over 50 cattle being transported by the fuel tanker were also burned alive in the fire, as confirmed by Abdullahi Baba-Arab, Director-General of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency.

Search and Rescue Efforts Underway

Search and rescue operations have been in progress at the site of the collision. Initially, authorities discovered 30 bodies; however, in a subsequent update, Baba-Arab confirmed that an additional 18 victims, who were burned to death in the inferno, had been found. A mass burial was conducted for the deceased due to the severe nature of their injuries.

Call for Caution from Niger State Governor

Niger State Governor, Mohammed Bago, urged residents of the affected area to remain calm while extending his condolences to the victims' families. He also emphasised the importance of road safety, reminding drivers to strictly follow traffic regulations to prevent such fatal incidents. "Road users must always be cautious and adhere to traffic regulations to safeguard lives and property," Bago stated.

Nigeria’s Frequent Road Accidents

Fatal truck accidents are tragically common in Nigeria, Africa's most populous country, due to the lack of an efficient railway system to transport cargo. According to Nigeria’s Federal Road Safety Corps, in 2020 alone, the country recorded 1,531 gasoline tanker crashes, leading to 535 deaths and over 1,000 injuries.