Africa (Commonwealth Union) _ A devastating explosion in Nigeria claimed the lives of more than 140 people, including children, after an overturned gasoline tanker ignited while residents were trying to collect fuel from the leaking vehicle. The horrific incident, which also left dozens injured, took place at midnight in the town of Majiya, located in Jigawa state, authorities confirmed on Wednesday.
The tragedy unfolded when the tanker, traveling on a highway, lost control and overturned. Residents rushed to the scene in hopes of salvaging fuel. However, their desperate efforts to gather the precious liquid triggered a massive explosion. Police spokesperson Lawan Adam explained that the fire broke out after residents began scooping up fuel from the overturned vehicle, igniting a deadly inferno.
Nura Abdullahi, head of the National Emergency Management Agency in the region, shared the grim reality of the disaster, stating, “Close to 140 people were put in a mass grave apart from people buried in other places.” The explosion left many victims unrecognizable, and a mass burial was held in Majiya as the town mourned the catastrophic loss.
Emergency services arrived hours after the accident, but by then, the damage had already been done. According to Dr. Haruna Mairiga, the head of Jigawa’s emergency services, most of the victims were burnt beyond recognition. “If they knew (about the danger), they wouldn’t have gone to fetch the fuel,” Mairiga said, pointing to the lack of awareness about the hazards of collecting fuel from such accidents.
Despite warnings and past tragedies, this practice is all too common in Nigeria, a country where soaring fuel prices and widespread poverty drive many to take dangerous risks. In a nation where traffic regulations are often loosely enforced and an underdeveloped railway system limits cargo transport options, deadly tanker accidents like the one in Majiya have become tragically frequent.
The scarcity of fuel and rising costs have exacerbated this issue in recent years. With fuel prices tripling since the government ended its fuel subsidy program, more people are resorting to collecting fuel from accident sites. While the temptation to collect free fuel is understandable, these situations have led to many deadly accidents.
Witnesses described the terrifying scene as residents frantically tried to escape the spreading flames. Sani Umar, a local resident, recalled the horror to Channels Television, saying, “The fire spread so quickly that many couldn’t escape. People were running in all directions, screaming for help.” His account paints a vivid picture of the chaos and devastation that gripped the small town as flames engulfed everything in their path.
The tanker driver, who had traveled approximately 110 kilometers from Kano state, was also involved in the tragedy. Details of the exact circumstances leading to the tanker’s loss of control are still under investigation. Nonetheless, the Jigawa State Emergency Management Agency initially reported that 105 people had died, including those who succumbed to their injuries in hospitals. However, as the full scope of the disaster became apparent, the death toll rose to over 140.
State Police Commissioner Ahmadu Abdullahi expressed his condolences, stating, “This is a heartbreaking moment for us all.” The people of Majiya and the surrounding areas are left grappling with the immense loss, with many families devastated by the sudden and violent deaths of their loved ones.
While the government has pledged to improve safety and regulations surrounding the transportation of fuel, tragedies like this one highlight the urgent need for greater enforcement of traffic laws and increased public awareness of the dangers associated with fuel accidents. In the absence of such measures, the cycle of loss and devastation will likely continue.
This latest disaster serves as a grim reminder of the deadly risks that accompany poverty and desperation. The question of how many more lives Majiya’s people will lose before implementing systemic changes to prevent future tragedies lingers as they mourn their dead.
