Nigeria fuel truck explosion death toll soars to 86

The death toll from a fuel truck explosion in Nigeria has risen to 86, with at least 55 others injured, according to the director-general of the regional emergency agency. The incident occurred on Saturday January 18 in Dikko, Niger State, when a petrol truck overturned and exploded, attracting people who were attempting to scoop up fuel from the wreckage.

Abdullahi Baba-Ara, head of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency, confirmed that 80 bodies are currently buried in a mass grave at the Dikko Primary Health Centre, while five victims were taken to town by relatives and one died at the health centre.

This tragic event follows a similar incident in October 2023, when a fuel truck explosion in Jigawa State claimed the lives of 147 people. The recent surge in fuel prices, following President Bola Tinubu’s decision to end fuel subsidies as part of economic reforms, has contributed to increased danger surrounding such accidents.