Over 30 people and 50 cows have been confirmed dead following a petrol tanker explosion in Agaie Local Government Area of Niger State, early Sunday morning.
The incident occurred around 12:30 a.m. on the Lapai-Agaie road when a petrol tanker collided head-on with a trailer truck transporting travelers and cattle from Wudil, Kano State, en route to Lagos, according to the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA).
The Director General of NSEMA, Abdullahi Baba-Arab, confirmed the casualties in a statement, noting that two additional vehicles, a crane truck and a pickup van, were also caught in the fire caused by the explosion.
“The tanker, loaded with Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), collided with the trailer truck, leading to a massive fire that killed over 30 people and burnt more than 50 cattle alive,” Baba-Arab said. He added that the incident occurred approximately 2 kilometers from Dendo Community in Agaie LGA.
NSEMA’s Rapid Response Team, alongside local emergency committees, is continuing search and rescue operations at the scene, as more bodies are believed to be trapped in the wreckage.
The agency urged motorists to exercise caution on the roads and called on relevant authorities to support ongoing rescue efforts and prevent future occurrences of such tragedies.
