ON Tuesday, October 15, tragedy struck in Majiya Town in Taura Local Government Area of Jigawa State, as a tanker explosion occasioned monumental loss of lives and properties. The tanker fully loaded with petrol exploded along the Hadejia expressway. The tragedy, which occurred at around 10 pm, happened because residents of the area stormed the accident scene to scoop fuel from the upturned tanker.
It was during this process that the tanker exploded, igniting a massive fire which consumed everything within sight. The driver of the tanker was said to be journeying from Kano to Yobe State when he lost control of the tanker near Khadija University, Majiya. Lamenting the loss of 50 members of his extended family during the incident, a resident of the area, Mustapha Majiya, said : “My nephews, Nuradeen Rabiu, 16, and Dini Babalo, 17, were among those killed.
They tried to stop people from getting too close to the tanker and scooping fuel before the explosion. I just bought them books and new uniforms for the term.” Majiya added that some of the victims were mere onlookers who did not reckon with the danger of being around the scene.
The police spokesperson in Jigawa State, DSP Lawan Adam, reiterated the view that the incident was caused by locals collecting spilt petrol after the tanker accident. He said: “The residents were scooping fuel from the overturned tanker when the explosion occurred, sparking a massive inferno that killed 94 people on the spot. The incident left an.
