The death toll from a gasoline tanker explosion in Niger state, Nigeria, has risen to 98. The blast occurred when individuals used a generator to transfer gasoline from a crashed tanker. The explosion killed those involved and bystanders. Rising gasoline prices following subsidy removal have led many in Nigeria to attempt collecting fuel from accidents for personal or resale use.

The death toll from a gasoline tanker explosion in north-central Nigeria has increased to 98, according to the country’s emergency response agency on Monday.

The explosion occurred in the early hours of Saturday near the Suleja area in Niger state, after individuals attempted to transfer gasoline from a crashed oil tanker into another truck using a generator. The ignition from the generator sparked the explosion, leading to the deaths of those involved in the fuel transfer as well as bystanders.

Hussaini Isah, the head of operations for the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) in Niger State, spoke to the Associated Press on Monday, noting that the death toll may continue to rise. "The death toll keeps changing," he remarked.

On Sunday, Isah explained that the blast resulted in a high number of casualties because a crowd had gathered at the scene. This included people taking pictures, bystanders, and others attempting to collect gasoline.

The surge in gasoline prices in Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country, has been a result of the administration of President Bola Tinubu removing subsidies on the product over a year ago. This policy aimed to redirect resources toward more developmental purposes but has led to significant hardship. In Nigeria, scooping gasoline from fallen tankers is a common practice, as many view it as an opportunity to obtain free fuel, which they may either use or resell for a profit.