Overview
- The explosion occurred Tuesday along the Bida–Agaie corridor in Niger State after a tanker overturned and began leaking petrol.
- Witness accounts and officials say people gathered to scoop fuel from the fallen truck before it ignited, causing most of the casualties.
- Reported tolls vary by agency: police cited 31 dead and 17 injured, the national emergency agency reported 29 dead and 42 injured, and the state emergency agency later put the figures at 24 dead and 40 injured.
- Authorities say an investigation is underway to identify the driver, the owner of the tanker, and the cause, while the injured have been taken to nearby hospitals.
- State officials warned residents against collecting spilled fuel, and coverage links recurring tanker disasters to poor roads, limited rail freight options, speeding, and economic pressures following subsidy and currency policy changes.