86 bodies retrieved and buried following tanker explosion in Niger.

A tragic tanker explosion at Dikko Junction in Gurara Local Government Area of Niger State has claimed 86 lives, as confirmed by Abdullahi Baba Arah, Director General of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA).

Speaking on Sunday, Arah stated that 80 victims were laid to rest in a mass grave at the Dikko Primary Health Care premises, while five bodies were claimed by relatives for private burial. One additional victim succumbed to injuries at the healthcare center.

The incident occurred when a fuel tanker traveling from Kaduna to Gwagwalada overturned at the junction, spilling its contents. Despite warnings to maintain a safe distance, residents gathered to collect the leaking fuel. The tanker subsequently exploded, causing significant loss of life, injuries, and destruction of property valued in the millions.

The mass burial, coordinated by NSEMA with support from local government officials and community volunteers, began at 5 p.m. and continued until midnight.

Arah also confirmed that 55 individuals sustained injuries in the explosion and are receiving medical treatment.