A mass burial has been held for 140 victims of the petrol tanker explosion that occurred in Majiya Town, Taura Local Government Area of Jigawa State on Wednesday.
The tragic event, which has left the community in mourning, also resulted in 90 people being hospitalized, receiving treatment for injuries sustained in the explosion.
The incident took place just after midnight on Tuesday when a tanker, transporting fuel from Kano to Nguru in Yobe State, lost control near Khadija University, Majiya.
Eyewitnesses reported that the tanker had overturned, prompting local residents to rush to the scene to collect the spilt fuel.
This dangerous action ultimately led to the explosion that sparked a massive fire.
According to the Jigawa State Police Command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Lawan Adam, “The residents were scooping fuel from the overturned tanker when the explosion occurred, sparking a massive inferno that killed 94 people on the spot.”
Adam further described the situation as a horrific tragedy, noting that an additional 50 people were severely injured and had been rushed to Ringim and Hadejia General Hospitals for treatment.
The cause of the explosion was attributed to the unsafe practice of gathering fuel from accident scenes, a common but highly dangerous activity in such situations.
DSP Adam emphasized the importance of public awareness about the risks involved in scooping fuel from tankers involved in accidents, urging people to steer clear of such actions to avoid similar disasters in the future.
In response to the tragedy, the Federal Government has ordered an investigation into the incident.
The Ministry of Petroleum Resources, through a statement by its Special Adviser on Media and Communications, Nneamaka Okafor, conveyed its sorrow over the devastating event.
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The Minister of Petroleum Resources, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, directed the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority to commence an immediate probe.
He expressed his condolences to the affected families, stating, “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 continued, “On behalf of the Ministry of Petroleum Resources and the Federal Government, we extend our heartfelt condolences to the families and loved ones affected by this devastating incident.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the injured, and we wish them a swift and full recovery.”
In addition to ordering the investigation, Lokpobiri urged the public to avoid approaching vehicles transporting petroleum products that have been involved in accidents, emphasizing the importance of safety.
The Minister also called on petroleum transporters to ensure that only certified drivers, adhering to the safety regulations of the Federal Road Safety Corps, are employed to transport such hazardous materials.
