ABUJA, Nigeria— More than 140 people, including children, were murdered in Nigeria when an overturned gasoline tanker truck erupted in flames as they attempted to scoop petroleum, rescue officials reported Wednesday. Dozens more were hurt. Deadly tanker accidents are widespread in Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country, which lacks an adequate railway system for cargo transportation. People frequently recover petrol with cups and buckets, especially in light of skyrocketing fuel prices, which have tripled since the government eliminated costly gas subsidies last year. The most recent disaster occurred at midnight in Majiya town, northern Jigawa state, when a tanker driver lost control on a roadway, according to police spokeswoman Lawan Adam. Residents hurried to the spot before the “massive fire”

The majority of the bodies were unrecognizable, according to emergency services. Nura Abdullahi, head of the National Emergency Management Agency in the region, stated that close to 140 people were buried in a mass grave, while the majority of other victims were “burned to ashes” at the scene.

“If they had known about the danger, they would not have gone to get the fuel,” Mairiga explained. However, neighbour Sani Umar told local Channels Television that the fire spread so swiftly that many people were unable to escape. “People were running in all directions, screaming for help,” Umar told me. According to Nigeria’s Federal Road Safety Corps, more than 1,500 fuel tanker accidents happened in 2020, killing 535 people. Experts argue that in many cases, no prosecutions are filed, and victims or their families are not reimbursed. In September, a fuel tanker collided with another truck in north-central Nigeria, killing at least 48 persons. The recent disaster has raised concerns about the West African country’s safety and traffic rules.

“If they had known about the danger, they would not have gone to get the fuel,” Mairiga once informed me. However, neighbour Sani Umar told local Channels Television that the fire spread so swiftly that many people were unable to escape. “People were running in all directions, screaming for help,” Umar explained to me. According to the Nigerian Federal Road Safety Corps, over 1,500 fuel tanker accidents happened in 2020, killing 535 people. Experts argue that in many cases, no charges are filed, and victims and their families are not reimbursed. In September, a fuel tanker collided with another truck in North Central Nigeria, killing at least 48 persons. The tragic accident has raised concerns about the West African country’s safety and transportation rules. Most tankers