Despite Dikko Junction explosion tragedy, Niger residents gather to scoop oil from fallen tanker

Videos obtained by News360 Nigeria reveal dozens of residents in Bida, Niger State, collecting groundnut oil from a tanker that overturned near Shafa Filling Station in the Esso area.

Community sources disclosed that the incident occurred on Tuesday morning, just three days after a devastating tanker explosion on Dikko-Maje Road near Badeggi Filling Station in Suleja Local Government Area, which claimed 98 lives.

Unfortunately, as residents gathered to collect the spilled oil, a sudden explosion engulfed the scene, leaving many dead or severely injured. Reports indicate that even those attempting to help the victims were caught in the blaze.

Eyewitnesses said the fire spread rapidly, causing extensive destruction and leaving behind charred remains. The explosion happened around 9:00 am while efforts were being made to transfer PMS from the overturned tanker to another vehicle.

“The oil is not fuel as people earlier claimed. It is groundnut oil. Maybe people first mistook it for fuel because the place is close to a filling station. But the tanker indeed fell,” a community source said.

“The tanker in Bida was not carrying petrol but groundnut oil,” the source added.

News360 Nigeria was unable to reach the Niger Police Command Spokesman, Wasiu Abiodun, for a comment on the incident.

Despite several attempts to contact him on Tuesday morning, his phone remained unreachable.

News360 Nigeria has previously reported numerous incidents where hundreds of Nigerians have lost their lives while attempting to collect fuel from overturned tankers.