The death toll from the petrol tanker explosion at Dikko Junction in Niger State has climbed to 86, while 55 others remain hospitalized with varying degrees of injuries.
According to The PUNCH this update was provided by Abdullahi Baba-Arah, Director-General of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency, in a statement issued on Sunday.
According to Baba-Arah, the tragic incident, which occurred on Saturday, resulted in the recovery and burial of 86 victims.
“A total of 86 persons have been confirmed dead, with their corpses recovered and buried. Eighty of them were interred in a mass grave at the Dikko Primary Healthcare Centre premises, while five were claimed by relatives for burial in the town. One of the victims succumbed to injuries at the Dikko Primary Healthcare Centre,” he said.
The mass burial, conducted by NSEMA in collaboration with the Gurara Local Government Area and local volunteers, took place between 5 p.m. and midnight on Saturday.
The explosion occurred after a speeding fuel tanker lost control and crashed at Dikko Junction, a key route connecting Niger and Kaduna states.
Fuel spilling from the tanker attracted residents, who attempted to scoop it up. Tragically, the tanker ignited, resulting in a massive blaze that claimed the lives of those collecting fuel and others trying to assist.
Niger State Governor Mohammed Umar Bago visited the scene on Saturday and announced measures to prevent future occurrences.
Expressing his condolences and condemning reckless driving, he banned vehicles traveling from the Maje axis from using the Dikko Bridge.
“It is unacceptable for vehicles coming from Maje to use this bridge. They must now take the underpass and follow the appropriate U-turn,” the governor stated during his inspection of the site.
Bago also directed the Federal Road Safety Corps to establish a detachment at Dikko Junction to enforce the new directive. “I call on all relevant transport unions to cooperate with the FRSC in implementing this order,” he added.
The governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Bologi Ibrahim, confirmed the directive in a statement.
Governor Bago commended the swift response of NSEMA, the Fire Service, the FRSC, and transport unions in evacuating victims and providing immediate assistance.
He also revealed plans to redeploy doctors from Minna hospitals to Suleja General Hospital, where many injured victims are receiving treatment.
