By Ayomide Otitoju
A petrol tanker explosion in Majiya Town, Taura Local Government Area of Jigawa State, resulted in a devastating loss of life early Wednesday morning, leaving over 90 people dead and 50 others severely injured.
The explosion occurred around 12:30 AM when a tanker traveling from Kano to Nguru, Yobe State, overturned near Khadija University in Majiya. According to the Jigawa State Police Command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Lawan Adam, the disaster was triggered when residents rushed to collect spilt petrol from the tanker.
“The residents were scooping fuel from the overturned tanker when it exploded, causing a massive fire that instantly killed 94 people,” DSP Adam confirmed. The explosion left 50 others with severe burns, who were immediately transported to Ringim and Hadejia General Hospitals for treatment.
Authorities began a mass burial for the victims on Wednesday morning, as the entire community mourned the tragic loss. The Police described the scene as a “horrific tragedy” and urged the public to recognize the dangers of scooping fuel from accident sites.
Jigawa State Commissioner of Police, AT Abdullahi, extended his heartfelt condolences to the victims’ families and the people of Jigawa State. “This is a heartbreaking moment for us all. We share in the grief of the families affected, and our thoughts and prayers are with them,” he said.
He called for greater public awareness of the risks associated with petrol explosions and urged residents to notify authorities immediately in such cases. “We appeal to the public to report such accidents to security agencies to prevent further tragedies. Safety must be our top priority,” Abdullahi added.
Eyewitnesses described the scene as chaotic, with residents scrambling to escape the flames. One survivor, Sani Umar, who narrowly escaped the fire, said, “It was terrifying. People were running and screaming for help, but the fire spread so fast that many couldn’t get away.”
