The Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA) has confirmed that no fewer than 86 persons lost their lives in the tanker explosion that occurred at Dikko Junction, Abuja-Kaduna Expressway, on Saturday, January 18, 2025, in Gurara Local Government Area of Niger State.

The Director General of the agency, Abdullahi Baba Arah, who confirmed the death toll, disclosed that all the corpses were recovered and buried accordingly.

He added that 80 of them were buried in a mass grave at the Dikko Primary Health Care premises, while five were taken away for burial in the town by their relatives, and one died at the Dikko Primary Health Care.

Arah stated that the mass burial was conducted by NSEMA in collaboration with the Gurara LGA and volunteers on Saturday, January 18, 2025, between 5:00 pm and 12:00 am.

He also said that the number of injured persons now stands at 55, and they are currently receiving medical attention.