Minna, Jan. 19, 2025 – Death toll from the petrol tanker explosion at Dikko, Niger State, on Saturday has risen to 86, while the number of the injured also rose to 55.
On Saturday, the number of the dead stood at 70, while those injured were 50.
The Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA) announced the rise in the death toll in a statement on Sunday.
Abdullahi Baba-Arah, the Chief Executive of NSEMA, said more corpses were recovered and had been given a mass burial.
He said the agency, assisted by the Gurara Local Government Area and brave, kind-hearted volunteers, conducted the mass burial between 5:00 pm and midnight.
“A total of 86 persons have been confirmed dead, with their corpses recovered and buried.
“Eighty of them were buried in a mass grave at Dikko Primary Healthcare Centre premises, while five were taken by their relatives for burial in the town, and one died at Dikko Primary Healthcare Centre.
“The mass burial was carried out by NSEMA in collaboration with Gurara LGA and courageous volunteers between the hours of 5:00pm and midnight,” Baba-Arah said. (GBN)
