Another fuel-laden tanker has exploded at Kusogbogi in Agaie Local Government Area (LGA) of Niger State.
The incident occured at the boundary between Agaie and Lapai LGAs on Monday evening.
It was gathered that the fuel tanker which was in transit from Lagos to Kaduna on reaching the Kusogbogi area of Agaie, lost control due to a burst front tyre and fell into a roadside drainage, resulting in a fire explosion.
A resident of Lapai, Mallam Mahmud Abubakar, said the tanker fell and engulfed in fire while trying to overtake another truck.
Abubakar further revealed that a tanker exploded on the spot last week.
While attributing Tuesday’s incident to overspeeding and loss of control, he said last week’s explosion occurred when the tanker rammed into a stationary truck packed by the road, causing both trucks to burn.
Police Public Relations Officer Niger state command, Wasiu Abiodun, confirmed the development saying, “There was a lone fuel tanker accident with fire explosion along Agaie/Lapai road.
“The fuel tanker with Reg. No. DKA 03 A, driven by one Shamsudeen Dayabu of Matazun LGA of Katsina State on transit from Lagos to Kaduna and loaded with about 40,000 litres of PMS.”
“No life was lost during the incident as the road was temporarily closed, but normalcy was later restored for road users,” an official statement read.
Intel Region reports devastating fuel tanker explosion that occurred over a week ago at Dikko in Gurara Local Government Area of Niger State, left at least 98 person dead, with many others severely injured.
The tragedy occurred when residents gathered to collect spilled fuel, which suddenly ignited, causing a massive blast.
In response to the disaster, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu directed that 20 victims be transferred to Gwagwalada Specialist Hospital for advanced medical care.
