At least 60 people have died in a petrol tanker explosion in Dikko, Gurara Local Government Area of Niger State, authorities confirmed on Saturday. The tragedy has reignited concerns over the dangers of fuel scooping in Nigeria.
Witnesses reported that the victims, mostly scavengers, were collecting fuel from the fallen tanker when it ignited, resulting in a massive fire. Kumar Tsukwam, the Niger State Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), said, “The victims were mostly scavengers who gathered to scoop fuel despite efforts to warn them.”
The tanker, owned by HMY Oil and Gas, was transporting 60,000 litres of petrol from Lagos to Gwagwalada, Federal Capital Territory, when its body detached from the head, causing it to topple. Its registration number was KBG-103-XAX. The resulting fire spread to another tanker nearby, amplifying the devastation, Tsukwam added.
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The Director General of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), Abdullah Arah, revealed that the explosion was caused by the use of a generator during the transfer of fuel between the tankers. “This underscores the deadly risks associated with unsafe practices during such operations,” Arah said.
Emergency responders were quickly deployed to the scene, while investigations into the cause of the accident are ongoing. This incident follows a pattern of fuel-related disasters in Nigeria, where illegal fuel scooping and unsafe handling practices frequently result in casualties.
In the past decade, hundreds of Nigerians have lost their lives in similar accidents, highlighting the need for stricter enforcement of fuel transportation and safety regulations.
