At least 94 people died and almost 50 were injured in northern Nigeria in the explosion of a fuel tanker on Tuesday night, police said Wednesday.
The truck was involved in an accident on a highway in Jigawa state and many victims were hit by the explosion as they approached to try to remove the fuel, said police spokesman Lawan Shiisu Adam.
“To date, we have confirmed 94 deaths and almost 50 injuries,” said the spokesperson.
After the accident, which happened in the town of Majia, residents ran towards the vehicle to collect the spilled fuel, Adam reported.
The spokesperson explained that the police arrived at the scene and tried to dissuade residents, but the number of security forces agents was insufficient.
Tanker truck explosions are frequent in Nigeria, the most populous country in Africa, where roads are not well maintained and the population tries to extract fuel when an accident occurs.
94 dead and over 50 hospitalized in Jigawa State Nigeria, after a full tank of petrol tanker explodes. pic.twitter.com/01dZ5sKBaL
— Marvellous Arinze (@MArinze2993) October 16, 2024
