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Governor Bago condoles with victims’ families
From John Adams, Minna
Over 60 people were said to have been roasted to death at the popular Dikko Junction along the ever-busy Abuja-Kaduna highway in the Gurara local government area of Niger State when a petrol-laden tanker capsized early on Saturday morning.
Eyewitnesses said the petrol tanker, which was heading from Lagos to a northern state, suddenly got stuck at a bad spot on the road right at the junction. In an attempt by the driver to manoeuvre through it, the tanker overturned, spilling its contents over the road.
Tragedy struck when youths in the area scrambled to scoop fuel from the fallen tanker, and it suddenly exploded into flames, killing an unspecified number of scoopers and other passers-by. Vehicles, motorcycles, shops, and other businesses worth millions of naira were all affected by the inferno.
An unspecified number of people also sustained varying degrees of burns from the inferno and are currently being treated in government facilities in the area.
WARNING: GRAPHIC IMAGES BELOW
Meanwhile, State Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago expressed shock over the fuel tanker explosion, describing it as sad and unfortunate.
The Governor, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Bologi Ibrahim, said the frequent fuel tanker accidents and explosions, leading to the loss of innocent lives, are not only worrisome but heartbreaking.
He sympathised with the families of the victims of the explosion and prayed that Allah would grant the souls of the departed eternal rest and heal the injured.
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While directing all relevant Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to respond to the disaster and take necessary action, he urged the relevant security agents to ensure the area is secured.
He also cautioned the public to always be responsible and prioritise their safety.
Fuel tanker explosions have become a recurring incident in parts of the state, with over six different explosions resulting from petrol tanker accidents occurring between 2019 and the present, killing over 100 people and destroying properties worth hundreds of millions.
For instance, in 2019 alone, three different deadly accidents involving fuel tankers occurred, resulting in loss of lives and destruction of properties. Also, in 2020, between July and October, three fuel tanker accidents occurred in different parts of the state, killing scores of people, injuring several others, and destroying properties.
The deadliest explosion occurred at the same Dikko Junction along the Abuja-Kaduna highway on 9th May 2019, where about 26 people lost their lives, 35 shops were razed, and 19 vehicles, mostly commercial, were burnt.
Worried by the frequent petrol tanker accidents on its highways and the attendant loss of lives, the former Governor of the state, Alhaji Sani Bello, threatened to ban petrol tankers from plying the state highways, with violators risking jail terms or a fine of N500,000.
However, the law did not come into effect until the expiration of his tenure in 2023.
