At least 95 people were killed and 50 injured when a truck carrying fuel exploded on Thursday in the oil-rich Niger Delta, an official said.

Rivers State spokeswoman Ibim Semenitari told the Associated Press that the fuel tanker veered off into a ditch and those killed had been scooping the fuel when an explosion occurred killing many.

According to the AP report, the tanker swerved to avoid a head-on collision with some buses and overturned in the bushes.

State police spokesman, Ben Ugwuegbulam, put the time of the horrid accident at about 7 a.m.

NEMA spokesman, Yushau Shuaib, said 95 people were killed in the explosion that ensued after the truck overturned.

An eyewitness told the AP that the accident occurred near a major expressway that was under construction in Okogbe town.

He said construction workers were yet to finish the construction, forcing both lanes to merge into one single lane of traffic and negotiate passage.