ALBAWABA- A devastating fuel tanker explosion in northern Nigeria has left more than 140 people dead and 50 injured, according to local authorities.
The tragedy occurred late Tuesday night on the Kano-Hadejia expressway near the town of Majiya in Jigawa state, after the driver lost control of the vehicle, causing it to overturn.
The tanker exploded as a crowd gathered to scoop up spilled fuel with cups and buckets, despite warnings from authorities to stay away.
Jigawa police spokesperson Shi’isu Adam attributed the high casualty rate to the large number of people at the scene when the blast occurred.
Footage shared on social media showed widespread fires and panic as people tried to flee the area. Emergency services in Jigawa state confirmed that at least 147 people had died, with dozens more suffering serious injuries.
Incidents involving fuel tankers are common in Nigeria, a major oil producer, due to the reliance on road transport for fuel distribution in the absence of adequate rail infrastructure.
The risks have increased amid a fuel crisis, as prices have surged since the government removed a subsidy last year. Many desperate individuals now seek out tanker crashes to collect fuel for personal use or resale, despite the dangers.
In response to the tragedy, Nigeria's junior petroleum minister, Heineken Lokpobiri, called for an investigation into the incident and extended thoughts and prayers to the victims, wishing the injured a swift recovery.
