Many burnt to death as petrol tanker explodes in Niger

Many burnt to death as petrol tanker explodes in Niger

Many people, including women and children, were on Saturday killed in a tanker explosion at Dikko in the Gurara Local Government Area of Niger State.

The incident, it was learnt, occurred when some residents were scooping fuel from a petrol-laden tanker fell on the road around 9am.

Apart from the dead, scores of other persons also sustained injury, some of them taken to Suleja General Hospital as well as Umaru Musa Yar’Adua Hospital, Sabon-Wuse town.

“The tanker fell opposite the Government Girls’ Secondary School, Dikko, around 9am but it didn’t explode immediately until after people had gathered to scoop the fuel that was pouring on the ground,” said an eyewitness.

Niger State Governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago, confirmed the explosion in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Bologi Ibrahim.

The governor described the incident as worrisome and heartbreaking.

He sympathised with the families of the victims and prayed that Allah would repose the souls of the departed and heal the injured.

He directed all the relevant Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to do what is necessary while urging the Security Agents to ensure security in the area.