At least 94 killed in fuel tanker explosion in Nigeria

By Nimi Princewill, Abuja, Nigeria, Oct 16: At least 94 people were killed in northern Nigeria when a crashed tanker exploded near locals who had gathered to retrieve fuel, police told CNN.

The toll is expected to rise from the blast, which happened late evening local time on Tuesday in Majiya, a village in Jigawa state.

“The driver lost control and the tanker somersaulted and spilt fuel into a drainage ditch,” Jigawa police spokesperson Shiisu Lawan Adam said.

“As a result, residents rushed to scoop the fuel when the explosion happened.”

Adam said at least 50 people were seriously injured, adding that the death toll was provisional.