Another tragedy from the recurring fuel tanker explosions struck yesterday at Dikko Junction, Niger State.

Scores of residents, who rushed to the scene to scoop the content were killed while several others were injured and rushed to the hospital by rescue workers for treatment.

Officials of the rescue team, who included personnel of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), said 60 bodies of the victims were recovered.

LEADERSHIP Sunday gathered that the explosion occurred at about 10am yesterday at Dikko Junction in Gurara local government area of the state.

The vehicle laden with 60,000 litres of petrol caught fire near a fuel station when the body detached from the head and spilled fuel on the surroundings.

Eyewitnesses said the tanker was coming from the Kaduna axis of the Abuja-Kaduna Highway when the explosion occurred.

 

One of the eyewitnesses said the fuel truck with registration number KBG 103 XA belonged to HMY Oil and Gas and was driven by one Mohammed Modu from Jere in Kaduna State.

Also, a shop owner at Dikko Junction, Mohammed Aliyu, told LEADERSHIP Sunday that “the fatality rate was high because some of the residents disregarded the danger warning and were scooping the product when the body of the tanker detached and the product started spilling.

“While some succeeded in scooping the product and escaped, several others were not lucky as the inferno intensified and the tanker as well as another parked near the filling station exploded simultaneously,” he said.

The sector commander of the FRSC, Kumar Tsukwam, confirmed to LEADERSHIP Sunday that 60 bodies were recovered from the spot.

He said the tanker with 60,000 litres of PMS was to be delivered in Gwagwalada in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja when the disaster occurred

Tsukwam said the tank detached from the body of the vehicle and the product spilled leading to an explosion and intense fire that burnt the victims beyond recognition.

He said, “The body detached from its head leading to a fall of the tanker which resulted in the spilling of the fuel on the ground. A large crowd of people gathered to scoop the product despite efforts to stop them.

“Suddenly, the tanker burst into flames, engulfing another tanker. So far, 60 corpses have been recovered from the scene and the victims are mostly scavengers. The fire has been put out and gradually the road is opened to the motoring public.”

Also, the director-general of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), Abdullahi Baba Arah, said the spilled PMS got in contact with a generating set that was on, thereby triggering the explosion.

He said, “At present, NSEMA in collaboration with NEMA, Suleja LGA Emergency Committee and good-hearted volunteers are carrying out search, rescue and recovery operations to rescue the injured who have been moved to the hospital for treatment and to recover the corpses of the deceased.”

Meanwhile, Governor Umaru Bago has expressed shock over the incident.

In a statement issued yesterday by his chief press secretary, Bologi Ibrahim, the governor described the explosion as “worrisome, heartbreaking and unfortunate.”

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

The governor, however, cautioned the people to always be responsible and give priority to their safety.

He directed all the relevant ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) to do the needful and the security agencies to ensure security in the area.