At least 73 yet to be identified people have been burnt to death in a petrol tanker accident in Niger State.
Eyewitness account indicates that a tanker-laden with petrol fell at the popular Dikko junction in Suleja along the Abuja/ Kaduna highway and another tanker was immediately brought to transfer the content of the crashed tanker.
However, while the truckers were transferring the petrol some youths in the area and women swooped on the leaking tanker to scoop petrol when suddenly an explosion occurred and fire engulfed both trucks and the those scooping petrol at the scene.
Though no official figures have been published, eyewitnesses attest that more than 50 people were engulfed in fire when the explosion occurred.
Con firming the sad incident, Mr Kumar Tsukwan, the sector commander of the Federal Roads Safety Corps in Niger State told journalists that his men and deployment of other security agencies were already at the scene for rescue operation and to restore normalcy in the area.
The Niger State Governor, Hon Umar Bago through a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Bologi Ibrahim described the incident as wprrisme, heatbreaking and unfortunate.
Governor Bago sympathised with the families of the victims of the explosion and prays that Allah will repose the souls of the departed and heal the injured.
Governor Bago also, cautioned the people to always be responsible and give priority to their safety.
He directed all the relevant Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to do what is necessary while urging the Security Agents to ensure security in the area.
The Chairman of Suleja Local Government Area, Ishaku Bawa Na’ibi who visited the scene of the accident told journalists that efforts were being made to give mass burial to some of the victims who were Muslims, while efforts were being made to properly identify the victims.