A deadly tanker explosion at Dikko Junction in the Gurara Local Government Area of Niger State claimed 77 lives.
The community is currently in mourning as a result of the tragic event that took place on Saturday, raising questions about safety measures.
Abdullahi Baba-Arah, the Niger State Emergency Management Agency’s (NSEMA) director general, gave a phone call to confirm the death toll.
According to Baba-Arah, 25 injured victims were rushed to various hospitals in Suleja, Wuse, and nearby health facilities for urgent medical attention.
READ ALSO: Tanker Explosion Claims Lives In Niger, Several Injured
The Niger State Government issued a directive to the governor to stop all vehicles passing through the Dikko Bridge after the incident.
Governor Umaru Bago received the instruction while visiting the explosion site in the Niger State’s Gurara Local Government Area, Dikko Junction.
The Governor, who decried the recklessness of some drivers, said they should follow under the bridge and take a U-turn appropriately.
He demanded that the Federal Road Safety Corps’ sector commander establish a detachment there to ensure that the directive was followed, as well as urging the relevant transport unions to support them.
Governor Bago thanked God that the tragic incident did not affect the nearby communities, calling the tanker explosion as pitiful.
He demanded that the Federal Government finish the Minna-Suleja Road asap, because the project’s delay is causing an ongoing death levy.
The governor thanked the Niger State Emergency Management Agency, the fire service, and other organizations for their assistance in allowing victims to be evacuated.
He stated that Minna Hospital doctors would be moved elsewhere to provide care for the injured patients at Suleja General Hospital.
The tragic incident at Dikko Junction serves as a somber reminder of the potential dangers that fuel tankers can carry on Nigerian roads. To stop a catastrophe like this from repeating itself, many residents are now calling for more vigilance and stricter traffic laws.
Authorities are looking into possible mechanical failure or human error as the community grieves.
Dikko Junction is still a somber place to reflect on, one that has seen the loss of innocent lives and the resilience of a resilient local community.
In October, more than 170 people died in a similar incident in Jigawa State, in northern Nigeria.
Source: Channels TV
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