The tragic incident occurred on Sunday, September 8, in Niger State, located in the north-central region of the country. According to reports from Al Jazeera, the explosion was triggered when a truck carrying cattle collided with a fuel-laden tanker. The resulting blast engulfed nearby vehicles in flames.

Abdullahi Baba-Arab, Director General of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency, stated that 30 bodies were initially recovered, with an additional 18 discovered later. All victims were burned beyond recognition and were subsequently laid to rest in a mass burial.

Niger State Governor Mohammed Bago urged road users to remain vigilant and adhere to traffic regulations to prevent further tragedies. Tanker accidents are a recurring problem in Nigeria, with 1,531 incidents recorded in 2020 alone.