The death toll from a devastating fuel truck explosion in northern Nigeria has climbed to 98 after additional bodies were recovered from the scene on Monday. The accident, which occurred on January 18, 2025, in Dikko, Niger State, is the deadliest since a similar tragedy in Jigawa State in October 2024 that claimed 147 lives.
The explosion happened when a petrol truck overturned, prompting locals to gather fuel from the wreckage before the tanker ignited. Abdullahi Baba-Ara, director-general of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency, reported that 80 victims were buried in a mass grave over the weekend.
“After clearing the wreckage, we discovered 12 more bodies, bringing the total death toll to 98,” Baba-Ara told Reuters. Additionally, 69 people are receiving treatment in hospitals for injuries sustained in the blast.