Death toll from Niger tanker explosion rises to 98

At least 98 persons have been confirmed dead and 69 injured from the petrol tanker explosion that occurred in Gurara LGA of Niger state.

A statement on Monday by Abdullahi Baba-Arah, director-general of Niger State Emergency Management Agency, said over 20 shops were destroyed during the incident.

He said the explosion occurred on Saturday when a tanker conveying petrol crashed and another tanker was brought to transfer the contents.

Reports suggest that residents were scooping petrol when the explosion occurred.

At least 80 people, whose bodies were recovered after the incident, were buried in a mass grave at Dikko Primary Healthcare Centre by officials of the NSEMA and Gurara LGA. Other recovered bodies were retrieved by family members for burial.

President Bola Tinubu had ordered the National Orientation Agency (NOA) to commence comprehensive campaign on the dangers of scooping fuel from fallen tankers.

The latest incident highlights the continued trend of petrol tanker explosion-related deaths across the country.

Earlier in the month, at least two people reportedly died in a petrol tanker explosion in Agbor in Ika LGA of Delta state.