as Governor Bago bans heavy duty vehicles from one way routes.
By Magaji Abdul
By Ken Chiwendu
At least 60 bodies have been recovered from the scene of fuel tanker explosion at Dikko, Gurara Local Government Area of Niger State.
A fuel tanker belonging to an oil and gas company exploded after falling down on Saturday morning, killing scores and injuring several others.
Giving an update on the situation on Saturday afternoon, the Niger State Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps, Kumar Tsukwam,
said that the tanker, with the number plate KBG-103-XAX, belonged to HMY Oil and Gas and was driven by one Mohammed Modu.
Tsukwam said the tanker had loaded 60,000 litres of petrol from Lagos and was billed to deliver the product at Gwagwalada, Federal Capital Territory when the body detached from the head, leading to the fall of the vehicle.
He said the victims were mostly scavengers who gathered to scoop fuel despite efforts to stop them
He added that the fire extended to another tanker.
But the Director General, Niger State Emergency Management Agency, Abdullah Baba Arah said the explosion was caused by a generator being used to transfer the fuel from the fallen tanker to another tanker.
Meanwhile, Governor Bago has ordered the ban of heavy duty vehicles from plying one way route through Dikko bridge.
Bago who gave the order during his visit to the scene of the explosion while expressing deep sorrow over the incident, criticised the recklessness of drivers, and urged the FRSC to establish a detachment in the area in compliance with the directive.
