In a tragic recurrence, just two days after a devastating tanker explosion in Niger State that claimed over 90 lives, another incident occurred in Bida town, where a tanker carrying groundnut oil fell. Despite the earlier disaster, residents in the area were seen collecting oil from the tanker, ignoring potential danger.
The explosion that occurred around Dikko Junction in Gurara LGA, which initially killed 98 people, has caused further casualties as some victims succumbed to injuries in the hospital. Eyewitnesses reported that the tanker involved in the Bida incident was leaking groundnut oil, and while some residents gathered the oil, others fled to avoid being caught up in another tragic event.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed the National Orientation Agency (NOA) to ramp up efforts in educating the public about the dangers of scooping fuel or other hazardous materials from accident sites. The Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) expressed concerns over the growing number of casualties and the severe burns sustained by victims. Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA) reported that 86 bodies were mass-buried, and many others are receiving treatment for severe burns.
Authorities continue to emphasize that the explosions are often triggered by people attempting to scoop fuel from overturned tankers, leading to deadly fires. Niger State has unfortunately seen several such incidents, with another tanker explosion in September 2024 killing more than 50 travelers.
