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Snapshot 3:Wed, Oct 16, 2024 6:02:01 PM GMT last edited by Vandita

Nigeria: Fuel Tanker Explosion Kills At Least 140

Nigeria: Fuel Tanker Explosion Kills 94At inLeast Nigeria140

Above: Fire fighters extinguish a fire from a tanker laden with gas and trucks that burst into flames following an accident at Ogere on the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway on June 22, 2021. Image copyright: PIUS UTOMI EKPEI/Contributor/AFP via Getty Images

The Facts

  • The incident occurred past midnight in Majiya town when the tanker driver lost control while traveling on a highway near a university, causing the vehicle to veer off course to avoid a collision with a truck.A gasoline tanker overturned and exploded in Jigawa, Nigeria, resulting in over 140 deaths and at least 50 injuries, as people rushed to the overturned vehicle to collect fuel.

  • Residents who heard about the accident hurried to the scene to scoop up fuel, which led to a massive inferno that claimed numerous lives on the spot, according to police spokesperson Lawan Adam.Emergency services said Wednesday that the incident occurred at around 11:30 pm local time in Jigawa's Majiya village when the tanker driver lost control while traveling on a highway and veered off course to avoid a collision with a truck.


The Spin

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The root cause of this tragedy lies in the country's economic crisis and soaring fuel prices, which drive desperate citizens to risk their lives for a few liters of gasoline. The recent 39% increase in petrol prices by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company has only worsened the situation. Until the government addresses these underlying economic issues, such accidents will continue to claim innocent lives.


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