At least 77 people have been confirmed dead following a devastating tanker explosion in Niger State, Nigeria, on January 18, 2025. The incident occurred in the Dikko area when an oil tanker exploded while attempting to transfer fuel to another tanker. This operation sparked a fire that engulfed bystanders who had gathered to scoop spilled fuel from the road, leading to a tragic loss of life.
Kumar Tsukwam, a sector commander for Niger State with the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), stated on Saturday that crowds gathered to collect the spilled fuel after the truck overturned. “The tanker ignited, leading to the engulfment of another tanker,” he remarked in a statement.
“Most of the deceased were burned beyond recognition,” Tsukwam noted. “We are currently on-site to manage the situation,” he added, mentioning that firefighters had successfully extinguished the flames.
Niger’s governor, Mohammed Bago, confirmed the occurrence in a statement, indicating that many individuals are feared to have died in the extensive fire resulting from the tanker explosion.
He characterized the event as “concerning, tragic, and regrettable.”
Frequent Tanker Incidents
Such incidents have become increasingly prevalent in Africa’s largest oil-producing nation, resulting in numerous fatalities amid the country’s most severe cost of living crisis in a generation.
Since President Bola Tinubu eliminated a long-standing subsidy upon taking office in May 2023, petrol prices in Nigeria have surged by over 400 percent. This has compelled many to endanger their lives in attempts to recover fuel during tanker accidents.
In October 2024, a similar tragedy claimed the lives of more than 150 people in Jigawa State, also in northern Nigeria.
Approximately 100 additional individuals sustained injuries in that incident, as a growing crowd approached an overturned tanker to collect fuel for resale on the black market. Many victims were interred collectively in a large funeral organized by local authorities.
In September of the same year, another 59 individuals perished in Niger State when a fuel tanker collided with a vehicle transporting passengers and livestock.
Following the incident in October, Nigerian President Tinubu reiterated the government’s dedication to reassessing and improving safety protocols for fuel transportation. He further stated that law enforcement would bolster efforts to avert additional accidents through heightened patrols, more rigorous enforcement of safety regulations, and the implementation of various highway safety measures.
In addition, authorities have been actively working to combat oil theft by enhancing their security strategies, which now include the deployment of gunboats on critical waterways.
