Majia town in Taura Local Government Area of Jigawa State is mourning after a petrol tanker explosion claimed the lives of 94 people and left 50 others injured.
The tragic incident occurred on Tuesday night when a tanker carrying petrol lost control and crashed near Khadija University at around 11:30 pm. The tanker, which was en route from Kano to Nguru in Yobe State, overturned and spilled its highly flammable contents.
As news spread of the fuel spill, local residents rushed to the scene to collect the petrol. In a devastating turn of events, the tanker exploded, igniting a massive fire that engulfed everyone in its vicinity.
Mr. Shi’isu Adam, the Police Public Relations Officer for Jigawa State, confirmed the details of the explosion to the media on Wednesday.
“The tanker driver, Yusuf Mohammed, lost control of the vehicle, and it crashed in Majia town. Unfortunately, despite warnings, people gathered around the tanker to scoop fuel. That’s when the explosion happened, causing a high number of casualties,” he said.
He went on to express his sorrow over the loss of life, confirming that 94 people had died as a result of the explosion. Additionally, 50 others were severely injured and were receiving treatment at Ringim General Hospital and Hadejia General Hospital.
Eyewitness reports indicate that after the tanker crashed, a large crowd gathered at the scene to collect the spilled fuel, despite the risks involved. Fuel scooping, although extremely dangerous, is a common practice in Nigeria, especially in rural areas where people are desperate for fuel.
“We have always warned people to stay away from such scenes,” Mr. Adam said. “Yet, they ignored the warnings, and this led to a great loss of life.”
The police spokesperson urged Nigerians to prioritize their safety in such situations, stressing that fuel tanker accidents are almost always followed by explosions due to the highly flammable nature of the fuel.
A mass burial for the victims of the explosion took place on Wednesday morning. The solemn event brought out a huge crowd of mourners from Majia town and neighboring areas. Families who lost loved ones were overwhelmed with grief, as the scale of the disaster became clear.
One resident, visibly shaken, told reporters, “This is the worst thing I’ve ever seen in my life. So many lives were lost. It’s devastating.”
The Jigawa State Police and other emergency services have been working tirelessly to manage the aftermath of the explosion, from the recovery of bodies to assisting the injured.
In his statement, the Jigawa State Commissioner of Police, Mr. A.T. Abdullahi, expressed his condolences to the people of Majia town and Jigawa State as a whole. He urged citizens to learn from the tragedy and avoid fuel scooping in the future.
“This is a very sad day for Jigawa State. Our thoughts are with the families who have lost loved ones,” Abdullahi said. “We cannot stress enough the dangers of approaching a fuel tanker accident. The risk of explosion is always high, and people must stay far away to avoid such terrible incidents.”
The practice of fuel scooping adds another layer of danger to oil spills. Despite the obvious risks, many Nigerians rush to accident scenes to collect fuel, which is seen as a valuable and scarce commodity in many parts of the country. Unfortunately, these gatherings often turn fatal when the volatile fuel ignites.
In recent years, Nigeria has witnessed several such disasters. In 2019, over 50 people died in Benue State when a petrol tanker overturned and exploded. In 2018, a similar incident on the Lagos-Ibadan expressway claimed the lives of 12 people.
Experts have repeatedly called on the government to enforce stricter safety regulations for fuel transport, as well as raise awareness about the dangers of fuel scooping. However, these tragedies continue to happen, leaving behind a trail of death and destruction.
