At least 48 people were killed on Sunday in a catastrophic explosion involving a fuel tanker truck in north-central Nigeria, following a collision with another vehicle. According to the State Emergency Management Agency of Niger state, the fuel truck collided with a vehicle transporting travelers and cattle, leading to the explosion. Several other vehicles were also caught in the incident.
Spokesperson Hussaini Ibrahim confirmed the death toll and noted that efforts to clear the scene were ongoing.
The explosion occurred amidst ongoing fuel shortages in Nigeria, exacerbated by a recent 39% increase in gasoline prices implemented by the state-owned NNPC Ltd. The price hike, which is the second major increase in over a year, has led to prolonged queues at fuel stations across the country.
