According to the Vanguard newspaper, the explosion occurred when nearby individuals began to collect fuel that was spilling from a fuel tanker.
"Those who went for the fuel were engulfed in flames just like those who rushed to save them," said Tsukvam.
As stated by Alhaji Abdullahi Baba-Arah, the director-general of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), search and rescue operations are currently underway at the explosion site.
The publication also specifies that the injured have been hospitalized.
"The injured have been taken to the hospital for treatment, and efforts are being made to recover the bodies of the deceased," emphasized Abdullahi Baba-Arah.
Meanwhile, several media outlets report that the actual death toll is 70 people.
A similar incident occurred in Nigeria on November 15, 2024, where at least 94 people lost their lives and 50 were injured.