A tragic fuel tanker explosion in northern Nigeria has claimed the lives of over 170 people, police confirmed on Friday. An additional 70 individuals are receiving intensive care in hospitals.
The explosion occurred late Tuesday in the town of Majiya, Jigawa state, when a crowd rushed to collect fuel from a crashed tanker. The blast ripped through the crowd, resulting in a high number of casualties and severe injuries.
Deputy Superintendent of Police Lawan Shiisu Adam reported that 70 people are being treated at the Federal Medical Centers in Azare, Nguru, and Birnin Kudu. He stated that the death toll had risen to 170, while other hospitals are also caring for victims with various injuries.
This incident is the latest in a series of similar accidents in Nigeria, where fuel has become increasingly valuable. The country is facing its most severe economic crisis in decades, making gasoline a scarce and precious commodity.
Since President Bola Ahmed Tinubu took office in May 2023, gasoline prices have surged more than fivefold. Inflation rates have remained above 30 percent for several months, with a recent peak of 34.19 percent in June before dropping to 32.7 percent in September.
According to a World Bank report released Thursday, over half of Nigerians—56 percent—now live below the poverty line, up from 40 percent in 2018. Last month, another fuel tanker accident in northwestern Niger state killed at least 59 people when it collided with a truck carrying passengers and cattle.
