Niger tanker explosion death toll rises to 59

The death toll from a petrol tanker explosion after a head-on collision with another articulated vehicle has risen to 59.

The incident happened on Sunday along Lapai-Agaie, 2km from Dendo Community in Agaie LGA, Niger State when the petrol tanker was involved in a head-on collision with another trailer transporting over 60 people and 50 cows from Kano to Lagos.

The Niger State Emergency Management Agency, Director General, Abdullahi Baba-Arab, made this known on Monday in a statement.

Baba-Arab said more d3ad bodies may be discovered in the process of continued evacuation.

“The death toll has risen to 59. We lost one of the injured with first-degree burns at the Federal Medical Centre Bida.

“Two locals were taken to a village nearby for burial, and the rest was discovered during evacuation. It’s also possible that more dead bodies could be discovered in the process of the continued evacuation,” Baba-Arab stated.