By Okeke Eunice
The number of fatalities from the petrol tanker explosion at Dikko Junction near Suleja in Niger State has increased to 86, while 55 people are injured and undergoing treatment in the hospital.
Initially, when the accident occurred on Saturday, the death toll was reported at 70, with 50 individuals injured.
Since then, additional bodies have been recovered and buried in a mass grave at Dikko.
The incident happened when a speeding fuel tanker lost control and crashed on Saturday morning at Dikko Junction, located on the border between Niger and Kaduna states.
The tanker exploded in a massive fireball while people were attempting to scoop fuel that had spilled on the paved road. The explosion claimed the lives of all those gathering the fuel as well as others who tried to rescue them.
In a statement on Sunday, the Director General of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency, Abdullahi Baba-Arah, revealed that the agency, alongside Gurara Local Government authorities and compassionate volunteers, organized a mass burial between 5 p.m. and midnight.
“A total of 86 people have been confirmed dead, and their bodies have been recovered and buried,” he stated.
“Out of the victims, 80 were buried in mass graves at the Dikko Primary Health Care premises, five were taken away by relatives for burial in the town, and one died at the Dikko PHC,” Baba-Arah said.
He added that the mass burial was conducted by the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA) in collaboration with the Gurara Local Government Authority and courageous volunteers between 5 p.m. and midnight.
“The number of injured has now risen to 55, with one additional death reported at Dikko PHC,” he noted.
Meanwhile, Niger State Governor Mohammed Bago, who visited the explosion site, issued a ban on vehicles traveling from the Maje axis from using the Dikko bridge. According to a statement on Sunday by his Chief Press Secretary, Bologi Ibrahim, the governor also directed the Federal Road Safety Corps Sector Commander to deploy a unit in the area to enforce the new directive.
Reacting to the tragedy, President Bola Tinubu expressed profound sadness in a statement released by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga. The President extended his condolences to the families of the victims, as well as to the government and people of Niger State.
President Tinubu instructed relevant agencies to ensure that the injured receive comprehensive medical treatment and tasked security and road safety authorities with implementing measures to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
He also directed the National Orientation Agency to launch a nationwide educational campaign to raise public awareness about the grave risks and environmental hazards of collecting fuel from overturned tankers.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, announced that the Federal Government had ordered the immediate transfer of victims from Suleja General Hospital to tertiary health facilities to provide them with better and faster medical attention.
At the scene of the explosion, Idris, accompanied by the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Nentawe Yilwatda, stated that the President had instructed the Federal Ministry of Health, the National Emergency Management Agency, and other agencies to ensure critically injured victims received prompt care at specialist hospitals.
Former President Muhammadu Buhari, in a statement issued by his media aide Garba Shehu, offered his condolences and expressed concern over the continued practice of fuel scooping despite repeated warnings and the tragic loss of lives associated with such incidents.
The former president extended his condolences to the government and people of Niger State and wished the injured a swift recovery.
Vice President Kashim Shettima, through a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Communication, Stanley Nkwocha, expressed his condolences to the families of the victims and reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to preventing similar tragedies in the future.
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, in a condolence message released by his Media Adviser, Musa Krishi, described the accident as a horrific and shocking event that claimed numerous lives. He urged relevant authorities to thoroughly investigate the incident and called on motorists to exercise greater caution on the roads.
On Sunday, the Northern Governors’ Forum expressed deep sorrow over the tanker explosion. Its chairman, Gombe State Governor Inuwa Yahaya, highlighted the far-reaching consequences of such accidents, which impact not only the victims and their families but also the nation as a whole.
“On behalf of the northern governors, I extend our heartfelt condolences to the victims’ families and the people of Niger State. We stand united with you in your grief,” the statement read.
Similarly, the Southern Governors’ Forum, in a statement by its chairman and Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, described the tanker explosion as a devastating tragedy.
In a statement from Abeokuta, Ogun State Governor and chairman of the Southern Governors’ Forum, Dapo Abiodun, expressed deep concern over the tragedy on behalf of the forum.
“The Southern Governors’ Forum is profoundly shocked by this devastating incident, which has claimed the lives of 77 (now 86) people and left at least 25 (now 50) others seriously injured. It is an unimaginable tragedy that has deeply impacted Niger State, and we pray that Almighty Allah grants comfort to the grieving families,” the statement read.
The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, also expressed his condolences in a statement issued in Abuja by his Chief Press Secretary, Edwin Olofu. He described the explosion as a heartbreaking tragedy that has brought immense pain to families and communities across Niger State.
“We are deeply saddened by the loss of lives and the suffering caused by this unfortunate incident. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the victims, their families, and everyone affected,” Ganduje stated.
The Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Shehu Mohammed, in a statement signed by Corps Spokesperson Olusegun Ogungbemide, described the incident as both tragic and preventable. He urged fuel tanker operators to comply with safety regulations while handling and transporting petroleum products to prevent such disasters in the future.
Meanwhile, the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar, through the Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI), called on the Federal Government to take decisive measures to address the recurring issues of tanker explosions and other criminal activities across the country.
In a statement issued on Sunday in Kaduna and signed by its Secretary-General, Prof. Khalid Aliyu, the Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI) described the tanker explosion as “one too many” and urged the government to take decisive measures to prevent such incidents in the future.
The group also called for enhanced surveillance on highways prone to explosions and stressed the urgent need to complete the 40-kilometer Suleja-Minna dual carriageway, which has been under construction for over 20 years and serves as a key connection between Abuja and Niger State.
Similarly, the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), in a press release signed by its President, Williams Akporeha, and General Secretary, Olawale Afolabi, urged the Federal Government to repair deteriorated sections of highways and ensure relevant agencies conduct awareness campaigns to educate Nigerians about the dangers of scooping fuel from overturned tankers.
“NUPENG, as a responsible organization, collaborates annually with key agencies such as the Federal Road Safety Corps, the police, and state traffic management authorities to provide road safety training for our drivers. The union remains committed to the continuous training and retraining of its members on best practices for driving and safety,” the statement read.