The Niger State Government has conducted a mass burial for victims of Sunday’s petrol tanker explosion in Essa village, Katcha Local Government Area, and approved comprehensive free medical treatment for survivors.
In a statement on Thursday, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Bologi Ibrahim, said the decision followed a visit by a government delegation led by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Special Duties, Murtala Bagana, to the scene of the explosion and hospitals where the injured are receiving treatment.
According to the statement, special prayers were held during the mass burial for the repose of the victims’ souls and for the quick recovery of those hospitalised.
“The Niger State Government has approved comprehensive free medical care for all the surviving victims of the Essa tanker explosion,” the statement read in part.
It added that about 50 people sustained varying degrees of injuries, with some being treated for burns and others for inhalation-related complications.
The victims are receiving care at the Federal Medical Centre, Bida; General Hospitals in Bida and Agaie; as well as the National Hospital, Abuja, and Gwagwalada Specialist Hospital.
The government also announced the provision of drugs and medical supplies worth over ₦10 million to hospitals managing the victims, alongside cash support for affected families.
It commended the management of the Federal Medical Centre, Bida, the State Ministry of Health, emergency response teams, and the Katcha Local Government Authority for their swift and coordinated response to the tragedy.
The government further appealed to residents to desist from scooping fuel from fallen tankers, warning that such acts pose grave risks to lives and property.
Normalcy, it said, has since been restored in the affected community.