At least 35 dead in fuel tanker explosion in northern Nigeria

At least 35 people were killed when a fuel tanker overturned and exploded in Niger State, northern Nigeria, on October 21, authorities said.

The tanker skidded off the Agaie–Bida highway, spilling petrol that ignited shortly after the crash, according to Aishatu Saádu, sector commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Niger State. Victims were taken to a nearby hospital for treatment, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

Preliminary reports indicate that local residents attempted to siphon fuel from the overturned tanker when the explosion occurred, igniting the spilt petrol.

Faruk Mohammed Kawo, chairman of the Nigerian Fuel and Gas Tanker Drivers’ Union, confirmed the incident and noted that about 30 similar accidents have occurred in Niger State so far this month.

Fuel tanker accidents are common in Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country, where petroleum products are mainly transported by road due to limited pipeline infrastructure. Poorly maintained roads with potholes often contribute to such deadly incidents, which claim dozens of lives annually.

By Vugar Khalilov