The Director-General of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency, Abdullahi Baba-Arah, has disclosed that the death toll in the petrol tanker explosion on Saturday has hit 86, with 50 more still in critical conditions due to injuries sustained in the inferno.
Baba-Arah who made the confirmation in a statement on Sunday, said so far, 80 of the dead have been given mass burial following approval given by Governor Mohammed Umar Bago.
“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 Primary Healthcare Centre,” he said.
“The mass burial was carried out by NSEMA in collaboration with Gurara LGA and courageous volunteers between the hours of 5pm and midnight.
“The number of injured now stands at 55, with one death recorded at Dikko PHC,” Baba-Arah added.
The disaster occurred on Saturday when a speeding fuel tanker crashed at Dikko Junction, located between Niger and Kaduna States.
While some residents attempted to scoop fuel spilling onto the tarred road from the tanker, it exploded in a massive blaze, engulfing those scooping the fuel and others attempting to rescue them.
Meanwhile, Gov. Bago has issued a ban on vehicles coming from the Maje axis from passing over the Dikko Bridge.
The Governor who placed the ban when he visited the scene of the tragic disaster on Saturday evening, decried what he described as the recklessness of some drivers, stating that it was unacceptable for vehicles coming from Maje to use the bridge, directing them instead to follow the underpass and take the appropriate U-turn.
In a statement on Sunday issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Bologi Ibrahim, Bago also announced that doctors from Minna hospitals would be redeployed to assist in treating the injured victims currently receiving care at Suleja General Hospital.
“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 criticised 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 Governor stated.
