Most Dikko Tanker Explosion Victims Were Bystanders, Travellers – Survivors, Bereaved Families
In a shocking revelation, survivors and the families of victims of the Dikko junction tanker explosion in Gurara local government area of Niger State, have challenged the initial reports, which suggested that the casualties were individuals scooping fuel from a spilled tanker.
According to their accounts, most of the 98 victims who perished in the January inferno were innocent bystanders and travellers, who had no involvement in the fuel collection. These heart-wrenching stories of how their loved ones were innocent bystanders, tragically caught in the inferno paint a grim picture of the disaster, shedding light on the true nature of the tragedy and the devastating impact on the lives of the 69 surviving victims and their loved ones.
Tanker explosions have unfortunately become a recurring tragedy in Niger State since 2022, with the most recent blast in Dikko, located in Gurara local government area, proving to be the deadliest.
This latest disaster has left an indelible mark on the community, claiming numerous lives and further highlighting the urgent need for better safety measures to prevent such devastating events.
LEADERSHIP Weekend gathered that the devastating event began early that morning when a 60,000-liter petrol tanker detached from its head and overturned near the Sabon Kasuwa community. As the fuel began to spill, efforts were made to transfer the contents to another tanker using a pumping machine and a generator, ultimately leading to the catastrophic explosion.
Though various accounts have emerged regarding the tragic incident, fueled by eyewitness testimonies and media reports. Some suggest that the explosion was triggered by a rush of desperate individuals who gathered to collect the spilling fuel, leading to chaos.
However, other accounts point to the generator used to transfer the fuel to another tanker as the cause of the blast, while another group claims the tragedy was set off when someone lit a cigarette near the spill, igniting a catastrophic explosion.
The explosion spread rapidly, engulfing people, vehicles, shops, and nearby structures. Those who even had a trace of petrol on their bodies were consumed by the flames, adding to the devastating loss of life and property, a survivor revealed.
The Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA) has corroborated various eyewitness accounts regarding the explosion. According to NSEMA, the explosion was caused by spilled Petroleum Motor Spirit (PMS), which came into contact with a generator used to power the transfer of fuel from the overturned tanker to another. This ignition led to the catastrophic blast, confirming the accounts of some of those who witnessed the tragic event unfold.
One of the survivors, Yunusu Yusuf, who is currently receiving treatment at the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital (UATH) in Gwagwalada, shared his harrowing experience when our correspondent visited him. “I was passing by when I saw the tanker spilling fuel. People rushed to scoop it, and shortly after, another tanker arrived to transfer the fuel. Then, out of nowhere, a fire ignited. It spread so quickly, consuming everything in its path. I had no choice but to strip off my trousers and jump over a fence to escape. The fire was right behind me.”
Yusuf, who is recovering from severe burns, expressed his gratitude for the federal government’s quick response and praised the hospital staff for their dedication. “The doctors and nurses are doing everything they can. I’m thankful for their efforts,” he said.
Two young boys, Alhassan and Isah, were also victims of the fire and are currently receiving treatment at UATH. Their father, Mr. Hamza, explained that the fire ignited while the fuel was being offloaded into the second tanker.
“My children had come to the shop to repair a machine while the fuel was being transferred,” Mr. Hamza recounted with a heavy heart. When the fire broke out, they tried to run, but tragically, they fell into the spilled fuel. I was called to the scene, and seeing what had happened was truly heartbreaking.”
Mr. Hamza also acknowledged the efforts of the state government, mentioning that families of the victims were given ₦50,000 for feeding, and that the victims were being provided with food and medical care. “The support has been helpful,” he said, expressing gratitude for the assistance during such a difficult time.
Bala Ibrahim, who owns a shop along the busy road, told LEADERSHIP Weekend that as the tanker was preparing to transfer the PMS to another tanker, it began to spill. People, in their hundreds, rushed to the scene to scoop the leaking fuel.
He explained that during the process, because the petroleum product wasn’t flowing as expected, the crowd grew impatient and started forcing the fuel out of the tanker. This action increased the volume of the spill, which eventually spread towards the generator that was running, providing an alternative power source to the fueling station.
An attendant at a nearby filling station, who identified himself as Mubarak, explained that despite repeated warnings and efforts to disperse the crowd, people continued to gather in increasing numbers. The situation escalated to the point where the driver of the tanker, Mohammed Modu (with tanker number KBG 103 XA X), was overpowered by the crowd.
Other witnesses to the explosion were unanimous in pointing out the role of the scavengers, who flocked to the area in an attempt to scoop the spilled PMS. They shared that the driver, originally from the neighbouring Jere town in Kaduna State and employed by HMY OIL & GAS, was well-known in the area but ultimately helpless in controlling the chaotic scene.
An eyewitness, Aliyu Yerima, reported that the tanker was carrying about 60,000 liters of PMS. He mentioned that some security agents attempted to disperse the crowd, but the boys, mostly metal scavengers, pulled out knives and tried to attack the security personnel.
This account was further supported by Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps, Kumar Tsukwam, who provided further details on why the driver decided to transfer the fuel to another tanker.
According to Tsukwam, the driver chose to transfer the fuel after the head of the tanker became detached from its body, causing fuel to spill.
“This situation attracted a large crowd of people, who began to scoop the spilled fuel, despite efforts to stop them. Ultimately, the explosion occurred amidst the chaos.”
As families of the victims recounted their losses, some revealed they had lost up to four to six loved ones in the explosion. Amid tears, Ahmed Adamu shared the heartbreaking story of losing six relatives. Tragically, Adamu’s family members were not among those scooping the PMS; they were simply passengers waiting to board a vehicle heading north.
In a similar vein, six tanker drivers were involved in the accident. Two have died, while four others, including Mohammed Umar, Hassan Bukar, Umar Abba, and Gado Mustapha, were rushed to the hospital and later transferred to tertiary medical care in Abuja.
Speaking to LEADERSHIP Weekend, Hauwa Hamidu , revealed that two of her brothers were involved in the explosion. One brother passed away, while the other was initially admitted to the Suleja General Hospital before being moved to Abuja.
“We received a call that two of our brothers, who went to Dikko market, were involved in the tanker explosion. We lost one, and the other was admitted to Suleja General Hospital before being transferred to Abuja,” she said.
Additionally, a relative of Alhaji Sani Usman, chairman of the Association of Citizens of the Republic of Niger, shared that two Nigerien nationals were also involved and suffered severe injuries. They are currently receiving treatment in Abuja.
Several traders whose shops were destroyed in the explosion also spoke about their losses. One trader, Ibrahim Ali, shared that he had over N4 million in cash from sales the previous day in his shop, but it all went up in flames because it was the weekend and he had not yet deposited the money in the bank.
Commercial vehicle operators were also affected, losing their vehicles to the explosion, with only the wreckage left behind.
According to the latest update from the director -general of NSEMA, Abdullahi Baba Arah, the death toll has now risen to around 100, with some victims in critical condition after being transferred to various tertiary health institutions in Abuja.
While some have linked the incident to the level of poverty, social scientist Mohammed Baba Musa expressed a different perspective. He stated, “The behaviour of those scooping PMS at Dikko Junction and their resistance to security control highlights the need for greater public education on basic values and practices in a well-functioning society.
While economic deprivation can drive individuals to engage in abnormal and anti-social actions, as a nation, we must focus on restoring and upholding our moral values.
The University of Abuja Teaching Hospital has admitted 16 victims of the explosion, three of whom are in critical condition. The hospital’s chief Medical director ( CMD), Prof. Bissallah Ekele, disclosed that the victims sustained severe burns, with some having burns covering over 80 percent of their bodies.
Prof. Ekele said, “On Sunday afternoon, we received instructions from the coordinating Minister of Health, Prof. Ali Pate, to transfer the victims from the General Hospital in Suleja to tertiary hospitals in Abuja. Our ambulances, along with those from the Federal Medical Center, were dispatched to ensure their safe transfer. We currently have 16 victims under our care, and we are doing everything we can to stabilise them.’
Chairman of the hospital’s Medical Advisory Committee, Dr. Bob Okonu, emphasised the significant challenges in treating burn victims of this severity. “We’ve used over 20 cartons of saline for resuscitation, along with strong antibiotics to prevent infections. The next week will be critical, as infections are the greatest threat to their survival,” he explained.
Dr. Okonu further highlighted the financial challenges involved in treating the victims. “Managing these cases is extremely expensive. For each patient, we estimate an initial cost of ₦6 to ₦7 million in the first week alone. With 16 patients under our care, the costs are in the millions of naira for just one week. This includes fluids, antibiotics, surgical supplies, and specialised nutrition.”
He called for prompt action to honour financial pledges made by both the United States government and the federal government, expressing hope that the promised support would soon arrive to alleviate the financial strain of providing care.
“The pressure on our resources has been immense, but we remain dedicated to saving lives. We hope that the financial aid promised by both the United States and the federal government will come through quickly to help us manage the costs of caring for these victims,” Dr. Okonu said.
While the victims continue to receive medical care, the need for psychological support is also becoming an urgent concern. Dr. Okonu pointed out that “This is a critical moment. Many of the victims have not yet reached a stage where psychological intervention has been provided, but it is essential.”
He also shared that the hospital is taking a multidisciplinary approach. “Our system includes the services of experienced psychologists. We are ready to offer the psychological care that will be crucial for their recovery,” he assured.
Tanker explosions have become an all-too-familiar tragedy in Niger State, with a grim pattern emerging over the past few years. In 2022, a tanker explosion occurred in Baddegi, but fortunately, there were no casualties.
The following year, in 2023, another explosion was recorded along the Mokwa road, resulting in seven deaths. Then, in September 2024, a deadly blast occurred on the Agaie-Baddegi road, claiming 69 lives, marking it as the most fatal explosion until the recent disaster.
On January 18, 2025, a devastating explosion rocked the Dikko-Maje junction, opposite the Baddegi fueling station along the busy Abuja-Kaduna expressway, leaving countless lives lost and the community in shock.
