A devastating petrol tanker explosion in Niger State’s Agaie Local Government Area has resulted in the deaths of 48 people, who were given a mass burial after their bodies were burnt beyond recognition.
The incident occurred on Sunday at approximately 12:30 am when a petrol tanker collided with a trailer truck carrying travelers and cattle from Kano State. The crash happened along the Lapai-Agaie road, 2km from Dendo Community.
Abdullahi Baba-Arab, Director General of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), confirmed the death toll and stated that 18 additional bodies were recovered during further search and rescue operations, bringing the total number of fatalities to 48.
The explosion also claimed the lives of over 50 cattle and destroyed two other vehicles, a crane truck and a pickup van.
NSEMA’s Rapid Response Team, in collaboration with local emergency management committees, is still conducting search and rescue operations at the scene.
The agency’s statement read: “A deadly tanker explosion occurred on Sunday, September 8, 2024, at approximately 12:30 am along Lapai-Agaie, 2km from Dendo Community in Agaie LGA. The incident involved a petrol tanker loaded with PMS colliding with a trailer truck carrying travellers and cattle from Wudil in Kano State heading to Lagos.”
The statement added that over 30 people were initially confirmed dead, with more corpses still trapped inside the trucks.
Add Comment