Black Sunday: Niger tanker explosion claims 48 lives, victims given mass burial

Tragedy struck in Agaie Local Government Area of Niger State as 48 people have been confirmed dead following a devastating petrol tanker explosion.

The victims, whose bodies were severely burnt, were laid to rest in a mass burial.

Abdullahi Baba-Arab, Director General of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), confirmed on Sunday that 18 more bodies were discovered during a search and rescue operation, in addition to the 30 initially reported.

The deadly incident occurred at approximately 12:30 am along the Lapai-Agaie road, near Dendo Community, when a petrol tanker collided with a trailer truck carrying passengers and cattle from Wudil, Kano State, en route to Lagos. The collision led to an explosion that also involved two other vehicles, a crane truck, and a pickup van, resulting in the loss of over 50 cattle alongside the human casualties.

Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago of Niger State expressed deep sorrow over the incident. In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Bologi Ibrahim, the Governor conveyed his condolences to the victims’ families and urged road users to prioritize safety and adhere to traffic regulations to prevent future tragedies.

The Governor prayed for the departed souls and wished a speedy recovery for those injured in the disaster.