Scores of residents are feared to have been burnt to death with several others sustaining varying degrees of injuries following a petrol tanker explosion around Dikko junction in Gurara LGA of Niger state.
Mr Kumar Tsukwam, Federal Road Safety Commander (FRSC) in Niger, confirmed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Minna.
According to him, a loaded petrol tanker fell at the scene of the incident with people scooping the spilling fuel, unaware of the impending danger.
Tsukwam said those who went to scoop fuel were engulfed by the flames just as those who went to rescue them were also affected.
He said more than 50 people lost their lives in the tragic incident. He, however, assured that personnel of the corps and other sister agencies were on ground for the rescue mission.
Alhaji Abdullahi Baba-Arah, Director General of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), said the explosion occurred at about
9am on Saturday, adding that the incident happened when a tanker loaded with Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) crashed, and an attempt was made to transfer its contents to another tanker.
In the process, the PMS came into contact with a generator used to effect the transfer, triggering an explosion that claimed over 50 lives.
The governor of Niger state, Umar Bago, in a statement by his spokesman, Bologi Ibrahim, expressed shock over the explosion, describing it as “worrisome, heartbreaking and unfortunate”.
Bago sympathised with families of explosion victims, prayed for the departed souls’ rest and wished quick recovery to the injured.
He directed all relevant ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) to take necessary actions and urged security agents to ensure safety, while cautioning residents to prioritise their safety.
