30 people, 50 cows killed in Niger petrol tanker explosion
Over 30 people have been confirmed dead in a petrol tanker explosion in the Agaie Local Government Area of Niger State.
The petrol tanker reportedly collided head-on with a trailer truck carrying travellers and cattle from Wudil, Kano State.
The Director General of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency, Abdullahi Baba-Arab, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday. He said the incident occurred around 12:30 am on Sunday, along the Lapai-Agaie road, approximately 2km from Dendo Community in Agaie LGA.
Baba-Arab reported that over 50 cattle were also burnt alive, and two other vehicles—a crane truck and a pickup van — were caught in the fire.
The NSEMA statement read: “NSEMA has received a report of a deadly tanker explosion that occurred on Sunday, 8th September 2024, at about 12:30 am along Lapai-Agaie road, 2km from Dendo Community in Agaie LGA.
“The incident happened when a petrol tanker loaded with PMS collided with a trailer truck carrying travellers and cattle from Wudil, Kano State, heading to Lagos. Two other vehicles, a crane truck and a pickup van, were also involved in the incident.
“Over 30 people have already been confirmed dead, with more than 50 cattle burnt alive. NSEMA’s Rapid Response Team (RRT), in conjunction with LGEMCs, is still at the scene conducting search and rescue operations, as more bodies remain trapped inside the vehicles,” the statement read.
