Nigeria fuel tanker explosion kills 147 people

A fuel tanker explosion in northern Nigeria has killed 147 people and injured 70, according to emergency services and the police.

The blast, which happened late evening local time in Majiya, a village in Jigawa state, occurred after the vehicle crashed and while locals were attempting to retrieve the fuel.

Local police spokesperson Lawan Shiisu Adam said the tanker was traveling from the ancient city of Kano to Yobe State in the north, when the driver lost control near Majia town in Taura local government area, about 530 kilometers north of the capital Abuja, causing it to overturn and spill fuel.

The death toll has been rising steadily since news of the deadly explosion broke, with 147 people confirmed dead, according to a statement from Nigeria’s National Emergency Management Agency.

Nigeria’s Vice President Kashim Shettima mourned the victims in a statement, saying: “My heart aches for those who have had their families torn apart by this disaster.

“This devastating incident has shaken us all to our core. The Federal Government stands with the people of Jigawa. We are mobilizing all necessary resources to support the injured and assist the families affected by this calamity.”

Shettima also announced “immediate federal government intervention and called for a comprehensive review of fuel transportation safety protocols.”

The blast comes a month after at least 48 people were killed in a similar accident in the north-central Niger state.

Fuel tanker explosions are not unusual in Africa’s most populous country, where oil supplies are frequently dispatched by road.

Previous fires have led to multiple casualties. In 2020, more than 500 people lost their lives in more than 1,500 fuel tanker accidents recorded that year, according to Nigeria’s road safety agency.

Poverty remains rife in Nigeria despite its status as one of Africa’s largest oil producers.