Daily Times

KANO: A petrol tanker slipped off the road and exploded in central Nigeria on Friday killing at least 14 people and destroying eight houses, witnesses told AFP.

“We buried 14 people including a six-month-old baby who died in the tanker explosion this morning,” said Muhammad Sani, who took part in the rescue operation. “Eight victims were taken to hospital, two of them in a very critical condition, while eight homes were burnt,” Abdullahi Egiworo, another resident, said.

A spokesman for Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) confirmed the accident, but refused to give away the casualty figures. “We received reports of an accident involving a petrol tanker in Tegina but are still awaiting details,” Bitrus Max told AFP. He said that emergency officials were heading to the scene to evacuate the victims.

Accidents involving petrol tankers happen frequently on Nigeria’s poorly maintained roads, mainly due to speeding and the disregard for traffic rules.