Following the devastating tanker explosion in Dikko junction of Kaduna-Abuja highway in Gurara of Niger State, the death toll from the explosion has risen to 86 while 55 people were injured and taken to hospitals in the state.
The Explainer reported on Saturday that residents were scooping fuel from a crashed tanker with many burnt beyond recognition.
More corpses have since been recovered and given mass burial in Dikko, Niger State.
The Director-General of Niger State Emergency Management Agency, Abdullahi Baba-Arah, released a statement on Sunday that his agency including Gurara local council and kind-hearted volunteers had conducted mass burial between 5 pm and midnight.
“A total of 86 persons have been confirmed dead with their corpses recovered and buried. Eighty of them were buried in a mass grave at Dikko Primary Healthcare Centre Premises, while five were taken by their relatives for burial in the town and one died at Dikko Promaey Healthcare Centre”.
The mass burial was conducted by NSEMA together with Gurara LGA and other braved volunteers between midnight.
“The number of injured now stands at 55 with one death recorded at Dikko PHC”, the agency’s director stated.
Some residents attempted to scoop fuel spilling onto the tarred pad from the tanker, and it exploded in a massive blaze. The explosion killed both those collecting fuel and others attempting to rescue them.
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Niger Governor Bans Truck On Maje Highway
The Niger State Governor, Mohammed Umar Bago had visited the scene of the tragic explosion on Saturday, issuing a ban on vehicles coming from the Maje axis from passing over the Dikko bridge.
The Governor who was at the scene said the recklessness of some drivers is unacceptable for vehicles coming from Make to use the bridge and directed them to follow the underpass and take the appropriate U-turn.
In a statement released by Bologi Ibrahim, the Chief Press Secretary to the governor gave the directive on Sunday.
“Niger State Government has directed that no vehicle coming from the Maje axis should be allowed to pass over the Dikko Bridge. Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago issued this directive during his visit to the scene of the tanker explosion at Dikko junction, Gurara LGA”.
“The governor who criticized the recklessness of certain drivers said vehicles from Maje must use the underpass and make the U-turn correctly.
He also urged the sector commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps to establish a detachment in the area to enforce the directive and called on all relevant transport unions to cooperate with the Road Safety Corps,” the press secretary stated.
The governor expressed his gratitude to NSEMA, the FIRE service, the Federal Road Safety Corps, and the Union Of Road Transport Workers, among others for their roles in evacuating the victims.
He also directed that doctors from Minna hospitals would be redeployed to assist in treating the injured victims currently receiving care at Suleja General Hospital.
