At least 42 people have lost their lives after an oil tanker exploded in Niger State, Nigeria. The vehicle was traveling from Lagos to the north when it skidded off the road and crashed, causing a massive fire that engulfed several villagers who had rushed to collect fuel from the spilled tanker.
Eyewitnesses say that many of those who died were burnt beyond recognition due to the intense heat generated by the explosion. Others suffered varying degrees of injuries, with 52 people currently receiving treatment at a local hospital.
Tanker explosions are an all too common occurrence in Nigeria, despite repeated warnings about the dangers of collecting spilled fuel. In October last year, a similar incident in Jigawa State claimed the lives of 153 people, while another tanker explosion in January this year killed over 86 people in Niger State alone.
The accident occurred near the Essan and Badeggi communities along the Bida-Agaie road in Katcha Local Government Area. The driver of the tanker was hailed as a hero for his bravery in escaping with his life, but his actions have raised questions about why more people do not take such risks to save themselves.
Niger State Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago has condemned the incident, describing it as "worrisome, unfortunate and pathetic". He called on citizens to be cautious when approaching a fallen tanker to scoop its contents, saying that such incidents would continue to happen unless awareness campaigns are taken seriously.
Eyewitnesses say that many of those who died were burnt beyond recognition due to the intense heat generated by the explosion. Others suffered varying degrees of injuries, with 52 people currently receiving treatment at a local hospital.
Tanker explosions are an all too common occurrence in Nigeria, despite repeated warnings about the dangers of collecting spilled fuel. In October last year, a similar incident in Jigawa State claimed the lives of 153 people, while another tanker explosion in January this year killed over 86 people in Niger State alone.
The accident occurred near the Essan and Badeggi communities along the Bida-Agaie road in Katcha Local Government Area. The driver of the tanker was hailed as a hero for his bravery in escaping with his life, but his actions have raised questions about why more people do not take such risks to save themselves.
Niger State Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago has condemned the incident, describing it as "worrisome, unfortunate and pathetic". He called on citizens to be cautious when approaching a fallen tanker to scoop its contents, saying that such incidents would continue to happen unless awareness campaigns are taken seriously.
this is getting out of hand we need more awareness about tanker safety people in nigeria know the risks but still rush into collecting fuel from spilled tankers its like theyre under some kinda spell 
and what really bothers me is that many of these accidents happen due to poor road conditions and lack of proper regulation 
! Like, 42 people lost their lives & it's all because of spilled fuel? It's crazy how Nigerians often rush to collect fuel from tankers without thinking about the dangers 
! I mean, we should all be careful when dealing with fire hazards, especially in rural areas where emergency services might not be readily available 
. The government should really invest more in education campaigns about tanker safety & road accidents prevention 
. It's just so heartbreaking to hear that the driver escaped but some villagers didn't 
. More awareness, please! #TankerExplosionNigeria #RoadSafetyMatters #FuelCollectionDangers
. why cant we just take precautions? 
. According to my data, tanker explosions have become a regular occurrence in Nigeria, with an average of 2-3 incidents per month. 
the government needs to step up awareness campaigns ASAP, or something needs to change 
. Anyway, back to Nigeria... 42 lives lost is crazy... have you guys ever tried Nigerian jollof rice? It's like, so good 
. I remember my aunt making this huge pot of it for our family gathering last year, and it just disappeared within an hour 
I'm not a politician, but even I know this doesn't have to keep happening if we just take the necessary precautions.
this is just getting out of hand in Nigeria... another tanker explosion and we're already up to 42 deaths? How many more lives need to be lost before the government takes serious action? I mean, I get it, accidents can happen, but come on! These are preventable incidents. The driver's bravery might have saved him, but what about all those who didn't make it out? And now we're hearing from the Governor about awareness campaigns... yeah right, that's just a nice way of saying "we'll try to educate you people to not collect fuel from spilled tankers". 
. It's like they say, "what happens in Nigeria, stays in Nigeria"... sadly it seems like a cycle of tragedy 
]
