Death toll in Niger tanker explosion rises to 86
The death toll in the Dikko, Niger State tanker explosion has risen to 86 with 80 of the victims buried in a mass grave.
The Director General of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency, Abdullahi Baba-Arah, disclosed this in Minna on Sunday.
He said that five of the victims were taken away by their relatives for burial while one died at the Dikko Primary Healthcare Centre.
Mr Baba-Arah said that the mass burial was carried out by NSEMA in collaboration with authorities of the Gurara Local Government Council and volunteers.
He confirmed that the number of injured persons was now 55.
The tanker explosion occurred on Saturday on the Dikko-Maje road in the Gurara Local Government Area of Niger State.
The incident happened when a tanker loaded with petrol fell and an attempt was made to transfer its content. Some residents later besieged the fallen tanker, scooping fuel.
An attempt to switch on a generator to ease transfer of the petrol triggered an explosion, resulting in deaths and property destruction.
(NAN)
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