Mass Burial Given to 80 Victims Ad Tinubu, Govs, Mourn
The death toll in the Dikko tanker explosion has risen to 86, with 80 of the victims buried in a mass grave.
Alhaji Abdullahi Baba-Arah, the Director-General of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Minna on Sunday.
He said five of the victims were carried away by their relatives for burial, while one died at the Dikko Primary Healthcare Centre.
Baba-Arah said that the mass burial was carried out by NSEMA in collaboration with authorities of the Gurara Local Government Area and volunteers.
He confirmed that the number of injured persons was now 55.
NAN recalls that the tanker explosion occurred on Saturday morning on the Dikko-Maje road in Gurara Local Government Area of Niger State.
The Incident happened when a tanker loaded with petrol fell and an attempt was made to transfer its content.
NAN reported that some residents had besieged the fallen tanker, scooping fuel.
An attempt to switch on a generator to ease the transfer of the petrol triggered an explosion, resulting in the deaths and destruction of properties.
Meanwhile, President Bola Tinubu has expressed deep sorrow over the fuel tanker explosion, which caused the death of over 80 people, with many also injured.
A statement issued on Sunday by Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, said President Tinubu mourned the victims and expressed his condolences to the families affected, as well as to the government and people of the state.
He underscored the tragic and preventable nature of the incident, as many victims were those scooping Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) from the overturned tanker.
The president has directed the provision of comprehensive medical care to the injured and instructed security and road safety authorities to implement measures to avert similar incidents.
According to the statement, Tinubu advised all citizens to exercise caution and avoid approaching accident sites, especially those involving fuel-laden vehicles, due to their highly explosive nature.
Additionally, the president has mandated the National Orientation Agency (NOA) to initiate a nationwide educational campaign.
It said this campaign will raise public awareness about the severe risks and environmental dangers of scooping fuel from fallen tankers.
Also, Professor Nantewe Yilwatda, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, has described the incident in a statement on Sunday as tragic, noting that it claimed many lives and destroyed property.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the statement was issued in Abuja by Rhoda Iliya, the ministry’s Information officer.
The minister, expressing concern over the rising frequency of tanker explosions in the country, warned motorists against reckless driving that could endanger innocent lives.
Yilwatda urged them to strictly adhere to road traffic regulations at all times.
