No casualty as another tanker explodes in Niger state

The police command in Niger says a petrol-laden tanker has exploded in the Agaie LGA of the state.

The incident occurred on Monday along the Agaie/Lapai road of the north-central state.

Wasiu Abiodun, police spokesperson in Niger state, confirmed the incident to TheCable on Tuesday.

The police spokesperson said the tanker carrying about 40,000 litres of petrol was driven by one Shamsudeen Dayabu of Matazun LGA of Katsina state.

He said the tanker, travelling from Lagos to Kaduna, “lost control due to a busted front tyre” at the Kusogbogi area of Agaie and “fell into the drainage”.

Abiodun said the tanker “caught fire and affected the driver on the leg, and the motor boy was also affected,” adding that they were taken to a hospital for treatment.

He said, “no life was lost during the incident as the road was temporarily closed, but normalcy was later restored for road users”.

The incident is the second explosion in Niger state and the latest in a series of tanker accidents in the country in recent weeks.

On January 18, at least 98 people died, and 69 others were injured when a tanker exploded in Gurara LGA of the state.

The victims were reportedly scooping petrol from the fallen tanker when the explosion occurred.

On Saturday, another tanker exploded at the Ugwu-Onyeama section of the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway, claiming many lives.

Following the disasters, President Bola Tinubu directed the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and agencies in charge of enforcing traffic rules to implement measures to prevent recurring incidents.