Tragic Tanker Explosion in Nigeria Claims 86 Lives
Death toll likely to rise following explosion amid soaring fuel costs in Africa’s largest economy.
A devastating fuel tanker explosion in Niger State, northern Nigeria, has resulted in the deaths of 86 people, with dozens more injured. The tragic incident occurred early Saturday near the Suleja area, where people attempted to transfer gasoline from one tanker to another using a generator.
Ibrahim Audu Husseini, spokesperson for the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) in Niger State, confirmed that the final death toll stands at 86. "We buried 86 burnt corpses between 12:00 pm yesterday and 2:00 am today," Husseini reported, explaining that the burial took 14 hours due to a lack of excavators, which required locals to manually dig the mass grave. In addition, 52 others sustained severe burns from the explosion.
The blast also destroyed 15 shops, according to NEMA, further compounding the disaster. Kumar Tsukwam, sector commander for Niger State with the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), stated that the tanker overturned, spilling petrol, and people rushed to collect the fuel. “The tanker burst into flames, engulfing another tanker,” Tsukwam explained, noting that many victims were burnt beyond recognition. Firefighters eventually managed to extinguish the fire.
Governor Mohammed Bago of Niger confirmed the incident, describing the explosion as “worrisome, heartbreaking, and unfortunate,” with many lives lost in the massive blaze triggered by the tanker.
Fuel tanker accidents are not uncommon in Nigeria, Africa's largest oil producer, where such incidents have become tragically frequent. Many Nigerians, struggling with the soaring cost of living, risk their lives to collect fuel from overturned tanker trucks. Since President Bola Tinubu eliminated a long-standing fuel subsidy in May 2023, petrol prices have surged by over 400%, exacerbating the country’s worst cost-of-living crisis in a generation.
A similar explosion in Jigawa State in October 2024 claimed the lives of more than 150 people, while injuring around 100 others. In September of the same year, another tanker accident in Niger State resulted in 59 deaths when a fuel tanker collided with a truck carrying passengers and cattle.
In response to these frequent disasters, President Tinubu has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to improving safety protocols for fuel transportation. The government has pledged to implement stricter enforcement of safety regulations, increase police patrols, and strengthen highway safety measures to prevent further incidents. Additionally, efforts are underway to combat oil theft, with enhanced security measures, including the deployment of gunboats on key waterways.