No fewer than 60 bodies have been recovered from the scene of a tragic tanker explosion that occurred in Dikko, Gurara Local Government Area of Niger State.
The explosion, which took place on Saturday morning, has claimed the lives of many and left several others injured. The tanker, carrying 60,000 litres of petrol, exploded after its body detached from the head, causing the vehicle to fall. The incident has been described as devastating, especially as many of the victims were scavengers attempting to scoop spilled fuel.
The Niger State Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps, Kumar Tsukwam, provided the latest update, confirming the number of fatalities in the aftermath of the explosion. According to Tsukwam, the tanker, with the number plate KBG-103-XAX, belonged to HMY Oil and Gas and was driven by Mohammed Modu. The vehicle had originated from Lagos and was en route to Gwagwalada in the Federal Capital Territory at the time of the accident.
Despite efforts to prevent them, numerous scavengers had gathered at the site, leading to tragic consequences. The fire spread to another nearby tanker, further exacerbating the devastation.
The Director-General of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency, Abdullah Baba Arah, attributed the explosion to a generator that was being used to transfer fuel from the fallen tanker to another one, which ultimately triggered the blast.
Authorities continue to work on the recovery efforts, and investigations are ongoing to determine the full extent of the incident and its causes.
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