A tragic petrol tanker explosion on Sunday in Niger State has claimed the lives of 48 people, all of whom were given a mass burial in Agaie Local Government Area. The explosion occurred after a petrol tanker had a head-on collision with a truck carrying travelers and cattle from Wudil in Kano State.
The Director-General of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), Abdullahi Baba-Arab, provided an update on the incident, confirming that all 48 victims were burnt beyond recognition, leading to their mass burial. Initially, 30 bodies were reported, but further search and rescue operations uncovered 18 additional victims, bringing the death toll to 48.
“Following further search and rescue operations, my agency discovered 18 more bodies which were also burnt to death, and all the dead have been given a mass burial,” Baba-Arab stated.
The fatal accident occurred in the early hours of Sunday, around 12:30 a.m., along the Lapai-Agaie road, approximately 2 kilometers from the Dendo community in Agaie LGA. The petrol tanker, loaded with Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), collided with a truck transporting passengers and cattle from Kano State, heading to Lagos. The crash caused an inferno that engulfed the vehicles and trapped several victims inside.
According to Baba-Arab, two other vehicles, a crane truck, and a pickup van were also caught in the explosion, worsening the devastation. In addition to the human casualties, over 50 cattle perished in the fire.
In an official statement, Baba-Arab described the severity of the explosion and the efforts undertaken by emergency responders. He said, “NSEMA has received a report of a deadly tanker explosion that occurred on Sunday, September 8, 2024, at about 12:30 a.m. along Lapai-Agaie, 2 kilometers from Dendo Community in Agaie LGA. The incident occurred when a petrol tanker loaded with PMS collided with a truck loaded with travelers and cattle from Wudil in Kano State heading to Lagos. Two other vehicles, a crane truck and a pickup van, were also caught in the incident.”
Baba-Arab further explained that the Rapid Response Team from NSEMA, in conjunction with the Local Government Emergency Management Committees (LGEMCs), is continuing search and rescue operations, as additional bodies may still be trapped inside the wreckage of the trucks.
The tragedy has sent shockwaves through the local community, with many mourning the loss of lives. In addition to the loss of human lives, the economic impact of the accident is significant, as dozens of cattle were also lost in the inferno. Local authorities and emergency services are continuing to assess the full extent of the damage.
This incident adds to the growing concerns over road safety and the frequent occurrence of tanker explosions in Nigeria, often leading to significant loss of life and property. The cause of the collision and subsequent explosion is under investigation, and authorities are expected to release further details in due course.
The mass burial of the victims marks a somber moment for the community of Agaie, as the state and its people come to terms with the scale of the tragedy.
