Nigeria, Oct. 21 -- A tanker carrying petrol has exploded at a village on the Bida-Agaei road in Niger State, killing an unspecified number of people.

The accident, according to a Facebook post by one Muhammad Somanji, occured in Essa in the Katcha LGA.

"Several individuals who sustained varying degrees of injuries were rushed to nearby hospitals for urgent medical attention," Mr Somanji wrote. "Emergency response teams are currently on ground working to manage the situation and assist affected victims."

He added that "authorities have launched an investigation to uncover the circumstances surrounding the explosion."

In a video Mr Somanji uploaded, residents could be heard calling out names of loved ones suspected to be missing at the...