The death toll from a gasoline tanker explosion in north-central Nigeria has risen to 86, with an additional 55 people injured. The explosion occurred near the Suleja area of Niger state as individuals were transferring gasoline from a crashed oil tanker to another truck using a generator. The fuel transfer sparked the explosion, resulting in the deaths of those involved and bystanders. The victims included people burnt to ashes, making it difficult to determine the exact number of casualties without forensics. The blast claimed many lives because a crowd had gathered at the scene, including people taking pictures and others attempting to scoop gasoline. Gasoline prices in Nigeria have soared since subsidies were removed over a year ago, causing hardship for many. Scooping gasoline from fallen tankers is common in the country as people see it as an opportunity to obtain free product for personal use or resale.
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