Tragedy struck on Tuesday afternoon when a petrol-laden tanker skidded off the road, fell, and exploded on the busy Bida-Agaie Road in Niger State. Hajiya Aishatu Sa’adu, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Sector Commander, confirmed ongoing rescue operations but could not yet provide casualty figures due to the severity of the incident.
The crash has caused serious traffic gridlock worsened by the poor condition of the road, which also slowed emergency response. Eyewitnesses reported many people were injured and some tragically burnt while trying to scoop fuel from the overturned tanker before the explosion. Officials say over 30 people have died, and dozens more injured.
The Niger State government and emergency services are coordinating relief, while calls for urgent road repairs to prevent such avoidable disasters grow louder.
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