Niger State petrol tanker explosion death toll rises to 86

The death toll in the tanker explosion at Dikko in Niger State has risen to 86, with 80 of the victims buried in a mass grave.

The Director General of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), Abdullahi Baba-Arah, disclosed this in Minna, the state capital, on Sunday, January 18, 2025.

Baba-Arah 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 the mass burial was carried out by NSEMA in collaboration with authorities of the Gurara Local Government Area and volunteers.

50 die in Niger State petrol tanker explosion

He confirmed that the number of injured persons was 55.

It would be recalled that the tanker explosion occurred on the Dikko-Maje Road in Gurara Local Government Area of Niger State on Saturday morning.

The incident occurred when a tanker loaded with petrol fell and an attempt was made to transfer its content.

Some residents also 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.

The Star