Forty-eight victims of the petrol tanker explosion that occurred on Sunday in Agaie Local Government Area of Niger State have been given a mass burial.
The tragic incident happened after a petrol tanker collided with a truck carrying travelers and cattle from Wudil, Kano State.
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The Director-General of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), Abdullahi Baba-Arab, confirmed the fatality update, noting that the victims were burnt beyond recognition. He explained that the mass burial was necessary due to the condition of the bodies.
“Following further search and rescue operations, my agency discovered 18 more bodies which were also burnt to death, bringing the total to 48,” Baba-Arab said in a statement. He added that the incident took place around 12:30 a.m. along the Lapai-Agaie road, about 2 kilometers from Dendo Community.
In addition to the human casualties, over 50 cattle were also burned, and two other vehicles, a crane truck and a pickup van, were destroyed in the inferno.
NSEMA, in collaboration with local emergency response teams, continues to search for more victims who may still be trapped inside the wreckage of the trucks.
