Fuel Tanker Explosion in Niger Kills Over 60 Amid Scramble for Spilled Petrol

At least 60 people died and dozens more suffered severe burns on Sunday, January 19, 2025, when a fuel tanker exploded along a major highway in Nigeria’s north-central Niger State. The blast erupted after hundreds of residents swarmed the overturned rig to collect spilled petrol, with an unshielded electric generator igniting the volatile hydrocarbons.

Local authorities confirmed the initial death toll and warned it will likely rise as rescue teams triage the critically injured at regional hospitals. Domestic media, including *Punch*, report the final casualty count could reach 70. The immediate human toll exposes a desperate scramble for affordable energy, where vulnerable citizens routinely trade safety for basic fuel amid crippling power shortages and severe economic strain.