Three die, several injured in Suleja tanker explosion

Three people have been confirmed dead and several others injured as a fuel ladened tanker exploded in Suleja, Niger state.

At least 19 vehicles were said to have been burnt in the explosion.

The explosion occurred on Friday night at Dikko junction on the Abuja–Kaduna expressway.

One person was burnt to death during the explosion while the other two died at the hospital.

The cause of the explosion remain unknown, however, investigations by the Niger state Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA) is ongoing.

The corpse of the deceased have been deposited in the morgue at the Umaru Musa Hospital, Sabon Wuse while those injured are also receiving treatment at the same facility.

The Director General of NSEMA, Ahmed Inga, who confirmed the incident, said it occurred around 10:30 p.m. on Friday saying that the number of injured persons remain unknown.

“We received a report from our Suleja Desk Officer that there was a tanker explosion and many people were affected.

“We cannot give the actual number of people that lost their lives, we will confirm that during our assessment; but from the report of our Suleja Desk Officer, one person died in the incident.

“Many people were injured and several vehicles were completely burnt.”

Inga further said that the federal and state fire service have been able to bring the fire under control.