The death toll in the petrol tanker explosion in Niger State has risen to 98.
The Director-General of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), Abdullahi Baba-Arah, disclosed this in a statement issued on Monday, January 20, 2025.
Baba-Arah noted that 69 people were also injured in the explosion, while 20 shops were burnt.
The petrol tanker explosion occurred along the Dikko-Maje Road, opposite Baddegi filling station in the Gurara Local Government Area of Niger State, about 9 a.m. on Saturday, January 18.
The incident occurred when a tanker loaded with petrol crashed, and an attempt was made to transfer its contents to another tanker.
In the process, the petrol came into contact with a generator used to power the transfer process, triggering an explosion that claimed many lives and destroyed property worth millions of naira.
The incident sparked widespread condemnation and sympathy from various quarters.
The Federal and the Niger State Governments also commiserated with the families of the victims and promised to provide support to those affected.
The state government had also called on the federal government to expedite action on the Minna-Suleja road project, which had been blamed for the frequent accidents in the area.
