The death toll from a devastating gasoline tanker explosion in north-central Nigeria has risen to 86, the country’s emergency response agency announced on Sunday, as per The Associated Press.
The horrific blast also left 55 people injured, who are currently receiving treatment at three different hospitals in the Suleja area.
The explosion occurred in the early hours of Saturday near Suleja, in Niger state. According to officials, the tragedy unfolded when individuals attempted to transfer gasoline from a crashed oil tanker to another truck using a generator. This unsafe transfer ignited the highly flammable fuel, triggering a massive explosion.
Hussaini Isah of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) told the Associated Press that the victims included not only those directly involved in the fuel transfer, but also numerous bystanders who had gathered at the scene. Tragically, the area had become crowded with onlookers, some taking pictures, and others attempting to collect the spilled gasoline.
The incident highlights the dangerous practice of scooping gasoline from overturned tankers, a common sight in Nigeria. This desperate act is often driven by the desire for free fuel that can be used or resold, particularly in the face of rising gasoline prices.
Gasoline prices in Nigeria have surged since President Bola Tinubu’s administration removed subsidies on the product more than a year ago. The policy was intended to free up resources for developmental purposes, but it has had the unintended consequence of causing significant financial hardship for many Nigerians.
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