Laraba MUREY
The National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, has deployed a rapid response team to Dikko Junction along the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway in Niger state, following a devastating tanker explosion on Saturday morning.
The explosion, which occurred on the Dikko-Maje Road opposite Baddegi Station, claimed over 70 lives, left 56 people injured, and destroyed shops and properties. Reports indicate the fire started when a generator, used to transfer Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, from a crashed tanker, ignited spilled fuel.
Speaking on the incident, NEMA’s Director General, Mrs. Zubaida Umar, expressed deep sympathy for the victims and their families, describing the tragedy as avoidable.
“This is a heartbreaking incident. We have repeatedly warned against the unsafe handling of spilled fuel, yet such negligence continues to result in tragic losses,” she said.
Umar noted that NEMA’s emergency team, led by Mr. Hussaini Isah, the Head of NEMA Minna Operations Office, is collaborating with first responders to manage evacuations and provide aid to the affected community.
“We are committed to ensuring public safety and preventing such incidents through continuous awareness campaigns and rapid response efforts,” she added.
Most of the victims were passers-by and members of the local community. Those injured have been taken to nearby hospitals for urgent treatment, while rescue operations are ongoing.
The agency called on stakeholders to intensify safety awareness and enforce regulations to prevent similar disasters in the future.
