No fewer than 50 persons lost their lives in a petrol tanker explosion on Saturday along Dikko-Maje Road in the Suleja Local Government Area of Niger State.
Many others sustained various degrees of injury while trying to scoop fuel after a petrol tanker spilt its contents on the tarred road.
The state Federal Road Safety Commander, Kumar Tsukwam, confirmed this to the News Agency of Nigeria in Minna, the state capital.
He said a loaded petrol tanker fell at the scene of the incident, with people scooping the spilling fuel, unaware of the impending danger.
Tsukwam said those who went to scoop fuel were engulfed by the flames, just as those who went to rescue them were also affected.
He said, “More than 50 people lost their lives in the tragic incident.”
He, however, assured all that personnel of the corps and other sister agencies were on the ground for the rescue mission.
Tsukwam confirmed that his men were on the scene, working tirelessly to rescue those trapped.
He said, “Those injured have been moved to the hospital for treatment while efforts are being made to recover the corpses of the deceased.”