The death toll from the tanker explosion on Sunday morning in Agaie Local Government Area, Niger State, has risen to 59, with 18 individuals sustaining serious injuries.
Kumar Tsukwan, the Niger State Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps, said all the victims were male and the vehicles involved were barely identifiable due to the extent of the fire.
He noted that only one vehicle’s license plate could be recognized, while the plate numbers of the others remain undetermined.
Tsukwan explained that the road safety did not release any statement early because they were busy giving emergency medical treatment and evacuating the injured victims to the General Hospital Lapai for medical attention.
He said that the injured obtained various degrees of injuries and several of them have been referred to the IBBU Specialist Hospital in Minna.
The Niger State FRSC Commander said the incident occurred at 4.30 am and it was reported to the FRSC Lapai Unit at 4.40 am.
“The fuel-laden tanker from Lagos on transit to Kano was on top speed, lost control, fell and engulfed with fire while another trailer that conveyed cows and humans was consequently affected and two other vehicles behind. All the four vehicles got burnt to ashes.
“It was gathered that the trailer that conveyed humans and cows was alerted by one of his passengers of the fire at their front but the driver responded that it was just mere tyre burning and on reaching the engulfed tanker, the trailer was immediately engulfed and consequently the two other vehicles were engulfed.”
In an update, the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA) said that the death toll increased to 59 because some dead bodies were discovered in the process of continued evacuation while one of the victims who got first-degree burns died at FMC Bida. (The Nation)
