Niger tanker explosion toll rises to 39, 60 injured

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has confirmed that astatine slightest 39 radical mislaid their lives and much than 60 others sustained injuries pursuing a petrol tanker detonation successful Niger State.

The tragic incidental occurred connected Tuesday successful Essa community, on the Agaie–Bida roadworthy successful Katcha Local Government Area, aft the tanker overturned and burst into flames. Reports bespeak that respective residents had gathered to scoop substance from the fallen conveyance earlier it exploded.

In a statement, NEMA said, “Upon receiving the distress report, the Director General of NEMA, Mrs. Zubaida Umar, instantly directed the Head of NEMA Minna Operations Office, Mr. Hussaini Isah, to activate the rescue squad and deploy to the country to enactment the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA) and different responders successful rescue operations.”

“The explosion, which happened astir 3:45 p.m. on the Bida–Badegi–Agaie road, claimed 39 lives and near implicit 60 persons with terrible burns, including men, women, and children,” the bureau added.

While commiserating with the victims’ families, Umar urged Nigerians to halt scooping substance from mishap scenes, informing that specified reckless actions often pb to devastating nonaccomplishment of lives and property.

She further appealed to residents and motorists to debar gathering astir clang sites and to promptly notify exigency responders for due intervention.

Reacting to the tragedy, Niger State Governor, Umar Bago, expressed grief implicit the loss, describing it arsenic “disheartening” that radical “continued to attack a fallen tanker to scoop its contents contempt respective sensitisations connected the information of specified action.”

In October 2024, implicit 100 radical were killed erstwhile a fuel-laden tanker exploded on the Kano–Hadejia Expressway successful Jigawa State portion residents attempted to cod spilt petrol.

The station Niger tanker detonation toll rises to 39, 60 injured appeared archetypal connected Vanguard News.