Residents Gather To Scoop ‘Free Oil’ As Another Tanker Falls In Niger Days After Explosion That Killed Over 90

Niger State residents have not learnt from the recent tragic tanker explosion as hundreds gathered to scoop oil from another fallen truck.

Reports obtained by Naija News on Tuesday revealed that another tanker fell on Monday in Bida.

The latest incident comes just two days following a tragic tanker explosion in the state that resulted in the deaths of over 90 individuals and left many others injured.

A widely shared video on social media depicted young individuals congregating around the disabled truck.

While some attempted to collect the contents, others hurriedly dispersed in various directions, seemingly to avoid becoming involved in another hazardous situation.

According to Premium Times, a local resident named Yinusa Jiya remarked, “The people were not even afraid despite earlier assumption that it was petrol.”

Another eyewitness, Fatimah Mohammed, who spoke to journalists on the latest event noted that the tanker was transporting groundnut oil.

“It fell around AYM Shafa filling station yesterday (Monday) and residents stole huge amounts of the groundnut oil dripping from the tanker,” she added.

The development came two days after the deadly tanker explosion that killed about 98 people around Dikko Junction, Gurara LGA, Niger State.

It is worth noting that there has been an increasing death toll from the recent explosion, as some individuals who were injured have succumbed to their wounds in medical facilities.

In response to this tragic event, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has instructed the National Orientation Agency (NOA) to enhance its campaign against the dangerous practice of scooping fuel during such incidents.

The Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) has expressed concern regarding the rising casualty figures and the severity of burn injuries.

The Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA) reported that 86 bodies were interred in a mass burial on Sunday.

Numerous other victims are currently receiving treatment for first-degree burns in various hospitals.

Authorities have attributed the significant loss of life and injuries to the actions of individuals attempting to scoop fuel, which ignited the fire.

Niger State has experienced multiple incidents in the past that have resulted in considerable fatalities.

On September 8, 2024, more than 50 travellers lost their lives in a midnight tanker explosion along the Agaie-Badeggi road.