A tragic accident occurred overnight in northern Nigeria when a fuel tanker exploded, killing at least 153 people. Many of those who died rushed to the scene to collect leaking fuel after the tanker overturned in Jigawa state. Despite police warnings to stay away, the crowd grew, leading to the explosion.
The incident happened around 11:30 PM local time when the tanker, traveling from Kano to Nguru, lost control. The driver was unharmed and is now in police custody as an investigation is underway.
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Vice-President Kashim Shettima sent condolences to the victims’ families and called for better safety measures for fuel transportation in Nigeria. Emergency services responded quickly, but many victims were badly burned. Some bodies were found far from the crash site as victims tried to escape.
Fuel tanker accidents are common in Nigeria due to poor road conditions and vehicle maintenance. Meanwhile, another fuel tanker overturned on a road in Ogun state, causing a fire that damaged other trucks but thankfully resulted in no injuries. In September, a similar accident in Niger state killed 59 people when a tanker collided with a passenger vehicle.
