A tragic petrol tanker explosion occurred in Majiya Town, Taura Local Government Area of Jigawa State, early Wednesday morning, claiming over 90 lives and leaving 50 others hospitalized.
The incident took place around 12:30 AM when the tanker, en route from Kano to Nguru in Yobe State, lost control and overturned near Khadija University in Majiya.
DSP Lawan Adam, the Police Public Relations Officer for the Jigawa State Command, reported that the explosion was triggered when residents rushed to collect the petrol spilling from the overturned tanker.
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“The residents were scooping fuel from the overturned tanker when the explosion occurred, sparking a massive inferno that killed 94 people on the spot,” DSP Adam explained.
“The incident left another 50 people severely injured, who were then rushed to Ringim and Hadejia General Hospitals for treatment.”
DSP Adam revealed that a mass burial for the victims began on Wednesday morning, as the entire community grieved the tragic loss.
He described the incident as a “horrific tragedy” and stressed the importance of raising public awareness about the dangers of collecting fuel from accident scenes.
Jigawa State Commissioner of Police, AT Abdullahi, extended his heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims and the people of Jigawa State.
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“This is a heartbreaking moment for us all,” he said. “We share in the pain and sorrow of the families affected. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the bereaved.”
The commissioner urged the public to be more aware of the risks associated with petrol explosions and encouraged residents to promptly report any such incidents to the appropriate authorities.
“We appeal to the public to notify security agencies or relevant stakeholders when such accidents occur to prevent loss of life. Safety must be our priority,” he added.
Eyewitnesses described the scene as chaotic and desperate, with many people frantically trying to save the injured amid the raging flames.
A resident, Sani Umar who narrowly escaped the inferno, recounted, “It was terrifying. People were running in all directions, screaming for help. The fire spread so quickly that many couldn’t escape.”
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