The death toll from the petrol tanker which exploded in Niger State on Saturday has increased to 70 with many others injured.
Millions of naira worth of property was also destroyed.
Most of the victims, including a pregnant woman and children, were burnt beyond recognition after they were enveloped by the fire triggered by the explosion.
Minister of State for Petroleum Heineken Lokpobiri ordered a probe into the incident which Niger State Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago described as unfortunate, heart-breaking and worrisome.
The governor visited the scene and gave a directive for the deployment of more doctors to the Suleja General Hospital to attend to the injured.
Saturday’s explosion followed a similar blast in Jigawa State last October in which 147 people died.
The tanker, according to eyewitnesses’ account, had flipped over on Dikko-Maje Road in Suleja Local Government Area of the state, following which a crowd soon gathered to scoop the fuel gushing out from the fallen tanker.
What soon followed was a loud noise, smoke and fire.
Eyewitnesses said as many as 100 people might have died.
Officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA) initially confirmed 50 deaths.
The death toll, however, rose to 70 a few hours later.
“The death toll stands at 70 so far,” Kumar Tsukwam, head of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Niger State, told newsmen.
Director General of NSEMA, Abdullahi Baba Arah, said the incident occurred at about 9 am when the tanker loaded with PMS crashed and “an attempt was made by the drivers to transfer its content to a second tanker.”
Continuing, he said: “In the process, the spilling PMS came in contact with a generator that was used to power the transfer process, triggering an explosion.”
Personnel of the agency and those of FRSC, security agencies and Suleja Local Government Area as well as volunteers immediately launched a search, rescue and recovery operation.
Corpses were recovered and the injured were moved to the hospital for treatment.
NEMA, in a statement on Saturday, noted that 70 people died, adding that while most of the casualties were burnt beyond recognition, 56 injured persons had been evacuated to nearby hospitals for medical attention.
It said most of the victims were members of the community and passers-by.
The Director General of NEMA, Mrs Zubaida Umar, condemned the act of poor handling of spilled tankers, stressing the recurrent tragedies associated with such risky behaviour.
The NEMA DG expressed regrets that despite the agency’s extensive public sensitisation campaigns with other stakeholders on the dangers of this practice, many individuals continued to ignore the warnings.
“This incident serves as another grim reminder of the need for strict adherence to safety measures during such emergencies,” the agency added.
Meanwhile, the Controller-General of the Federal Fire Service, Abdulganiyu Jaji, has called on fuel station owners and tanker operators to address the issue of reckless driving by their drivers, particularly on major roads and hazardous bends.
Speaking to journalists in Abuja on Saturday, Jaji emphasised the urgent need to review and enforce stringent safety protocols for fuel transportation across the country.
He warned that tanker explosions were increasingly frequent and often caused by preventable lapses.
Jaji said, “Fuel station owners and tanker operators should take immediate action in addressing reckless driving by their drivers, especially on major roads and dangerous bends. This will also help reduce the menace.”
Reacting to the tragedy, the Niger State Governor, Mohammed Bago, expressed shock and urged residents to prioritise their safety.
The Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Bologi Ibrahim, who was on Bago’s entourage to Suleja and Tafa LGs to inspect state projects, noted that scores of people died.
He said, “The governor describes the explosion as worrisome, heartbreaking and unfortunate. He specifically sympathises with the families of the victims and prays that Allah will repose the souls of the departed and heal the injured.
“The governor has directed all relevant ministries, departments, and agencies to do what is necessary while urging security agents to ensure security in the area.”