A tragic tanker explosion on Saturday morning at Dikko Junction, along the Abuja-Kaduna expressway in Niger State, has left many dead and others injured.
According to The PUNCH, the incident occurred after a petrol tanker, traveling at high speed, overturned and spilled its contents on the road.
Eyewitnesses reported that residents rushed to the scene to collect the spilled fuel. Unfortunately, the tanker ignited and exploded, killing many of those close to it. Others nearby managed to escape but sustained varying degrees of burns.
The Chief Press Secretary to Niger State Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago, Bologi Ibrahim, confirmed the incident.
According to him, the governor, who was on an inspection tour of projects in Suleja and Tafa Local Government Areas, expressed deep sorrow over the explosion and urged road users to exercise caution.
“The governor is deeply shocked by this unfortunate incident. He sympathizes with the families of those who lost their lives and prays for the recovery of the injured,” Ibrahim said.
In a statement, Governor Bago described the explosion as “heartbreaking and avoidable” and called for increased public awareness about the dangers of fuel scooping.
“I urge the people of Niger State to prioritize their safety and avoid risky behaviors, especially around fuel spills. We must be responsible and prevent such tragedies from happening in the future,” the governor said.
He also directed relevant Ministries, Departments, and Agencies to provide immediate assistance to the affected area while tasking security agencies with maintaining order as humanitarian teams worked to restore normalcy.
The incident has thrown the local community into mourning, with scores feared dead and several hospitalized with burn injuries.
