80 victims of Niger tanker explosion buried, families claim five

Eighty six victims of the tragic tanker explosion at Dikko Junction in Gurara Local Government Area of Niger State have been recovered and buried, says the Director General of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), Abdullahi Baba Arah,.

The SEMA DG disclosed this on Sunday, explaining that 80 victims were buried in a mass grave at the Dikko Primary Health Care premises, while five were claimed by relatives for private burial, and one victim died at the healthcare centre.

Recall that the explosion occurred when a tanker transporting fuel from Kaduna to Gwagwalada overturned at the junction, spilling its contents.

Despite warnings to stay away, residents were said to have flocked to the scene to scoop fuel.

The tanker exploded, resulting in widespread casualties, injuries, and the destruction of properties worth millions of naira.

The mass burial, organized by NSEMA in collaboration with Gurara council officials and volunteers, lasted from 5pm to midnight.

According to Arah, 55 individuals sustained injuries in the incident and are currently receiving medical treatment.