IN a devastating incident, seventy-seven lives were lost in a tanker explosion at Dikko Junction, Niger State.
News Point Nigeria reports that the tragic event, which occurred on Saturday, has plunged the community into mourning and raised concerns about safety measures in the area.
The Director General of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), Abdullahi Baba-Arah, confirmed the death toll to this newspaper through a telephone conversation.
According to Baba-Arah, 25 injured victims were rushed to various hospitals in Suleja, Wuse, and nearby health facilities for urgent medical attention.
Following the incident, the Niger State Government directed that no vehicle coming from the Maje axis should be allowed to pass through the Dikko Bridge.
Governor Umaru Bago gave the directive when he visited the scene of tanker explosion around Dikko Junction, Gurara Local Government Area of Niger State.
The Governor, who decried the recklessness of some drivers, said it is acceptable for any vehicle coming from Maje to pass through the bridge, rather they should follow under the bridge and take a U-turn appropriately.
He enjoined the Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps to establish a detachment in the area to ensure the enforcement of the directive while calling on all relevant transport Unions to cooperate with the Road Safety Corps.
Governor Bago described the tanker explosion which has claimed many lives as pathetic, thanking God that the tragic incident did not extend to the adjoining communities
He called on the Federal Government to expedite action to complete the Minna-Suleja road as the delay in the road project is contributing to the continuous loss of many lives.
The Governor thanked the Niger State Emergency Management Agency, Fire Service, and Road Safety, among other agencies that have contributed to the evacuation of victims.
He said doctors from Minna hospitals will be redeployed to assist in treating the injured victims currently receiving treatment in Suleja General Hospital.
The tragedy at Dikko Junction serves as a grim reminder of the potential dangers posed by fuel tankers on Nigerian roads. Many residents are now calling for increased vigilance and enforcement of traffic regulations to prevent a recurrence of such a catastrophe.
As the community grieves, investigations are underway to determine the exact cause of the explosion, with authorities exploring the possibility of mechanical failure or human error.
For now, Dikko Junction remains a somber site of reflection, marked by the loss of innocent lives and the resilience of a community determined to recover.
In October, more than 170 people died in a similar incident in Jigawa State, in northern Nigeria.
In 2020, the FRSC listed 1,531 fuel tanker accidents which claimed over 535 lives.