At Least 86 Killed in Fuel Tanker Explosion in Central Nigeria

The death toll from a petrol tanker explosion in central Nigeria has risen to 86, France 24 reported citing emergency services. The incident occurred on Saturday when a tanker carrying 60,000 liters of gasoline overturned at the Dikko junction, leading to a massive explosion as people rushed to collect fuel.

Ibrahim Audu Husseini, spokesman for Niger state’s emergency management agency, confirmed the fatalities, stating, “We buried 86 burnt corpses between 12:00 pm yesterday and 2:00 am today.” Additionally, 52 individuals suffered severe burns from the blast.

The explosion highlights ongoing fuel shortages exacerbated by the recent abolition of fuel subsidies by President Bola Tinubu, which has led to soaring prices amid an economic crisis. In response to the tragedy, Tinubu expressed deep sorrow and initiated a national campaign to raise awareness about the dangers of collecting fuel from overturned tankers.

This incident follows a similar tragedy in October, where over 170 people died in a fuel tanker accident in Jigawa State.