On Sunday, September 8th, in Niger State, Nigeria, a head-on collision between an oil tanker and a truck resulted in a devastating explosion, claiming the lives of at least 48 individuals. The emergency agency of Nigeria reported this tragic incident.
According to Abdullahi Baba-Arab, the head of the emergency management agency in Niger State, the oil tanker involved in the collision was also transporting cattle, with at least 50 cows perishing in the fire in the Agaie region of the state’s northern part.
Rescue operations are currently underway at the scene of the accident, as confirmed by Baba-Arab.
Initially, Baba-Arab mentioned the discovery of 30 bodies, but later updated the count to 48 in a subsequent statement. He mentioned that the deceased have been laid to rest collectively.
In response to this tragedy, Governor Mohammed Bago of Niger State urged residents of the affected area to remain calm and emphasized the importance of caution and adherence to traffic laws on roads to ensure the safety of lives and property.
Nigeria, with the largest population in Africa, often witnesses fatal truck accidents on major roads due to the lack of an efficient railway system for transporting goods, making such incidents unfortunately common.
Statistics from the Federal Road Safety Corps of Nigeria indicate that in the year 2020 alone, there were 1,531 reported tanker truck collisions, resulting in 535 fatalities and 1,142 injuries. These numbers underscore the pressing need for improved road safety measures in the country.