42 Victims of Petrol Tanker Explosion Given Mass Burial in Niger

In a somber ceremony, the Niger State government has conducted a mass burial for 42 people killed in a devastating petrol tanker explosion in Essa village, Katcha Local Government Area.

The tragedy unfolded after a tanker skidded off the road and crashed, spilling its flammable contents. Ignoring repeated warnings about the dangers, villagers rushed to the scene to collect the spilled fuel. The situation turned catastrophic when the tanker suddenly exploded, unleashing a massive fireball that engulfed those nearby.

The accident occurred on Tuesday near the Essan and Badeggi communities along the Bida-Agaie road in the Katcha Local Government Area of Niger state.

A statement from the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Bologi Ibrahim, confirmed the mass burial was held in Katcha, accompanied by special prayers for the repose of the victims and for the recovery of the injured.

The state government has approved comprehensive free medical treatment for the survivors of the explosion. According to officials, approximately 50 to 52 people sustained injuries, with some suffering severe burns and others receiving treatment for inhalation-related ailments. They are currently receiving care at a local hospital.

The tanker, carrying petroleum products from Lagos in southern Nigeria to the north, is said to have crashed due to the bad condition of the road.

Tanker explosions remain a recurring tragedy in Nigeria, often resulting from spilled fuel being scavenged before it ignites, leading to catastrophic loss of life.

Poor road infrastructure is a primary cause of vehicular accidents across the country.

This was tragically illustrated in October last year when a fuel tanker explosion in Jigawa state, north-west Nigeria, claimed the lives of 153 people. The peril was repeated this January near Suleja in Niger state, where a truck carrying approximately 60,000 litres of petrol overturned, resulting in at least 86 fatalities and injuring nearly 70 others.