The Niger State health team has moved swiftly into action to salvage the lives of some of the victims affected by the recent tanker fire incident that occurred at Dikko Junction in Gurara Local Government Area of the state.

This followed the earlier directive of Governor Mohammed Bago, who had ordered free medical services and the deployment of sufficient health workers to all the facilities where these patients are being managed.

The Niger State government expressed its condolences to the families of the victims of Saturday’s petrol tanker explosion, which the governor described as “sympathetic.”

The Special Adviser on Digital Media and Strategy, Abdullberqy Ebbo, stated on his social media handle (X) that following Bago’s directive, an 18-man multi-disciplinary medical team from the Ministry of Health has swung into action to provide medical treatment for the victims.

Ebbo hinted that the team is led by the Commissioner of Secondary and Tertiary Healthcare, Dr Tukur Bello, with other members including the Special Adviser on Health, Dr Shehu Ahmed, and the Special Adviser on Special Duties, Dr Murtala Bagana, among others.

He stated that the medical team was immediately on the ground to provide urgent medical relief to the victims of the tanker fire explosion in Dikko, who had been taken to both the Suleja General Hospital and Shehu Musa Yar’adua Hospital, Sabon-Wuse, in Tafa Local Government Area, respectively.

Upon assessment of the current condition of the patients, a significant number of them were found to require intensive care and were therefore directed to be referred to tertiary healthcare facilities in Abuja.

At the time of this report, a total of 43 male patients were said to have been admitted on Saturday, January 18th, 2025, at the General Hospital, Suleja. Of these, seven had lost their lives, three were satisfactorily discharged to recuperate at home, 10 patients were referred for specialist care in Abuja, and the remaining 23 were receiving treatment for various degrees of burns.

Also, at the General Hospital, Sabon-Wuse, 23 patients were initially admitted. 3 died within the first 6-8 hours of admission, 19 patients’ relatives signed consent forms to discharge them against medical advice, while one patient in critical condition was referred to Gwagwalada Specialist Hospital, Abuja.

According to Ebbo, the team from the Ministry of Health also used the opportunity to hand over medical supplies and commodities donated by the Niger State government to the two hospitals, respectively.