A devastating fuel tanker explosion at Dikko Junction in Gurara Local Government Area of Niger State has claimed 86 lives, according to the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA).
Henzodaily reports that NSEMA’s Director General, Abdullahi Baba Arah, confirmed on Sunday that 80 victims were laid to rest in a mass grave at the Dikko Primary Health Care premises.
Five others were released to their families for private burial, while one victim succumbed to injuries at the healthcare facility.
The tragedy unfolded when a fuel-laden tanker, en route from Kaduna to Gwagwalada, overturned at the junction, spilling its contents. Despite warnings to maintain a safe distance, residents gathered to collect the spilled fuel.
The tanker exploded, causing widespread destruction, injuring 55 people, and destroying properties worth millions of naira.
The mass burial, carried out by NSEMA in collaboration with Gurara local government officials and volunteers, extended from late evening into midnight.
The injured victims are currently receiving medical attention as authorities continue to assess the full extent of the damage.