A devastating petrol tanker explosion in Jigawa claimed 181 lives, including nearly 50 relatives of Mustapha Majiya, who lost his two nephews as they tried to warn others of the danger. The explosion highlights the ongoing risk of fuel tanker accidents in Nigeria, despite previous safety warnings.
Mustapha Majiya, a farmer from Jigawa, has shared the harrowing loss of nearly 50 family members in the tragic petrol tanker explosion that occurred last Tuesday. The tanker, carrying petrol, crashed and ignited after the driver lost control. Among the 181 victims, Majiya’s two nephews, Nuradeen Rabiu, 16, and Dini Babalo, 17, were killed as they tried to warn onlookers about the danger of scooping fuel from the tanker.
According to the police spokesperson in Jigawa, many of the victims were attempting to gather petrol after the accident, ignoring past warnings about the dangers of such actions. The large number of people at the scene led to the high casualty count.
Majiya also lost his close friend, Jamilu Maigaji, a father of 13, in the explosion. Despite the tragedy, Majiya said he has accepted the losses as the will of God.
Governor Umar Namadi, in a report to President Bola Tinubu, revealed that 80 people were hospitalized following the incident, with the state government covering medical expenses for the injured.
This disaster highlights the persistent risks associated with fuel tanker accidents in Nigeria and the need for improved public safety awareness.
