At least 90 people have been confirmed dead following a petrol tanker explosion in Majiya Town, Taura Local Government Area of Jigawa State.
The tragic incident occurred late on Tuesday night, according to Mr. Shi’isu Adam, the Police Spokesperson for Jigawa, who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria on Wednesday.
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Adam revealed that the tanker driver lost control near Khadija University around 11:30 p.m., which led to the explosion. “The driver had left Kano and was heading to Nguru in Yobe when the accident happened,” he said.
The explosion not only claimed lives but also left 50 others injured, with varying degrees of burns and injuries. The injured victims are currently receiving treatment at the Ringim General Hospital.
Despite previous warnings from authorities urging people to stay away from accident scenes involving fuel tankers, a large crowd gathered at the site of the incident, leading to the high number of casualties. “People gathered around the accident scene, and that is the reason for the mass casualty,” Adam lamented.
A mass burial for the victims was scheduled to take place at 9 a.m. on Wednesday. The authorities have reiterated the importance of adhering to safety warnings in the aftermath of such accidents.
