A somber mass burial was held for 140 victims of a devastating petrol tanker explosion in Majiya town, Taura Local Government Area of Jigawa State. The incident, which shook the nation, left communities mourning their loved ones as they laid them to rest. The explosion, which took place on a Tuesday night, is one of the deadliest in Nigeria’s recent history.
The tragedy unfolded when a petrol tanker, en route from Kano to Nguru Town in Yobe State, lost control and overturned near Khadija University in Majiya. What followed was a disaster that left the town in ruins. The tanker, which was carrying petrol, exploded, killing 94 people instantly and injuring scores more.
According to the Jigawa State Police Command, the real cause of the explosion was residents rushing to the scene to scoop fuel from the overturned tanker. In a statement by the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Lawan Adam, the community was unaware of the immense danger. “The residents were scooping fuel from the overturned tanker when the explosion occurred, sparking a massive inferno that killed 94 people on the spot,” he said.
The police confirmed that 50 more people were severely injured in the blast and were quickly rushed to Ringim and Hadejia General Hospitals for treatment. Unfortunately, despite receiving medical care, many of the injured succumbed to their wounds, pushing the death toll higher. The final number of those buried reached 140, while about 90 more are still in hospitals fighting for their lives.
One survivor, who spoke from his hospital bed in Hadejia, said that he was lucky to be alive. “I don’t know how I survived. One minute I was running towards the tanker, and the next thing I remember is waking up here. The fire was everywhere.”
In response to the tragic event, the Federal Government has ordered an investigation into the cause of the explosion. The Ministry of Petroleum Resources released a statement expressing deep sorrow and ordering a probe into what led to the tanker accident. Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, the Minister of Petroleum Resources, directed the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority to launch a thorough investigation.
The Minister’s Special Adviser on Media and Communications, Nneamaka Okafor, conveyed the Federal Government’s shock over the incident. “The Minister of Petroleum Resources, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, has expressed deep sorrow over the tragic petrol tanker explosion in Majiya Town, Taura Local Government Area, Jigawa State, which resulted in the loss of over 100 lives and left dozens more injured,” the statement read.
The Federal Government also extended heartfelt condolences to the families affected by the explosion, acknowledging the magnitude of their loss. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the injured, and we wish them a swift and full recovery,” the statement continued.
The Minister also used this tragedy to remind Nigerians of the dangers posed by approaching vehicles transporting petroleum products that have been involved in accidents.
