A fuel-laden tanker exploded at Kusogbogi, located between Agaie and Lapai Local Government Areas (LGAs) in Niger State, on Tuesday evening. The explosion occurred at approximately 6 PM, but fortunately, there were no reported casualties.
A local resident, Mallam Mahmud Abubakar, who lives in Lapai, described the incident, stating that the tanker fell and caught fire while attempting to overtake another truck on the road. He noted that this was not the first such incident in the area, as another tanker exploded at the same location just a week earlier.
Abubakar explained that the explosion on Tuesday was likely caused by overspeeding and a loss of control. In the previous week’s incident, he mentioned that the tanker had collided with a stationary truck that was parked by the roadside, which led to both vehicles catching fire.
This recent explosion adds to the string of fuel-related disasters in Niger State. Only a week ago, a devastating tanker explosion occurred in Dikko, located in the Gurara LGA.
The incident at Dikko tragically claimed the lives of at least 98 people, while many others suffered severe injuries. The explosion was sparked when locals gathered to collect spilled fuel, which unexpectedly ignited, causing a massive fire.
In response to the Dikko explosion, Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu issued a directive for 20 victims to be transferred to Gwagwalada Specialist Hospital for more advanced medical treatment.
