By Admin 
By Peter Onyekachukwu, Minna
At least 60 bodies have been recovered following a devastating tanker explosion in Dikko, Gurara Local Government Area of Niger State. The tragedy occurred on Saturday around 9 a.m., leaving scores dead and several others injured.
The Niger State Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Kumar Tsukwam, confirmed that the explosion involved a PMS-laden tanker with registration number KBG-103-XA, owned by HMY Oil and Gas.
The tanker, driven by Mohammed Modu, was transporting 60,000 liters of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) from Lagos to Gwagwalada in the Federal Capital Territory when the body of the tanker detached from the head, causing it to fall.
“The victims were mostly scavengers who had gathered to scoop fuel despite efforts to stop them,” Tsukwam said.
The inferno, which erupted shortly after the fall, extended to another tanker loaded with fuel, compounding the disaster.
Meanwhile, the Director General of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), Abdullah Baba Arah, provided further details on the cause of the explosion. According to him, the fire started when a generator was being used to transfer fuel from the fallen tanker to another vehicle.
“The use of a generator to transfer the fuel sparked the fire that led to the explosion,” Baba Arah explained.
Witnesses and first responders described the scene as chaotic, with burnt bodies and destroyed property scattered around.
The incident has drawn attention to the dangers of scooping fuel from accident scenes. Authorities are urging members of the public to avoid such risky behavior and adhere to safety protocols in emergencies.
Efforts are ongoing to identify the victims and provide support to the injured, while emergency services continue their recovery operations.