A total of 86 bodies have been recovered and buried after a tragic tanker explosion at Dikko Junction in Gurara Local Government Area, Niger State.
The Director General of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), Abdullahi Baba Arah, confirmed the incident on Sunday. He stated that 80 victims were buried in a mass grave at the Dikko Primary Health Care premises, five bodies were claimed by relatives, and one person died at the healthcare center.
The explosion occurred when a tanker carrying fuel from Kaduna to Gwagwalada overturned at the junction, spilling its contents. Despite warnings to stay away, residents gathered to scoop fuel, leading to an explosion that caused numerous casualties, injuries, and property destruction worth millions of naira.
The mass burial, conducted by NSEMA with local government officials and volunteers, took place between 5 p.m. and midnight. Arah also reported that 55 individuals sustained injuries and are receiving medical treatment.