Over 120 charred bodies of Tuesday’s tanker explosion in Majia town of Taura Local Government Area of Jigawa State were on Wednesday given a mass burial.
Death toll from the fuel tanker incident rose to over 125 persons as at Wednesday, while 70 others have been reportedly hospitalised and in various degrees of burns.
Health and rescue personnel as well as survivors have noted that the casualty figure could rise, considering that some of the victims sustained third-degree burns with their vital organs badly affected.
Eyewitnesses said almost every family in Majia town and adjoining communities were affected by the calamity in one way or the other, even as doctors, nurses and other supporting staff continue to work to save lives.
Some local and foreign media outlets reported that the number of those who died could be as high as 150.
The incident occured following a tanker crash gushing out it’s contents, while locals trooped to the scene to scoop the fuel.
And while they were still scooping fuel, the overturned truck exploded, with huge balls of fire engulfing the fuel scoopers.
The incident is coming at a time when the price of petrol has gone as high as N1,400 in some parts of the country and still expected to rise higher as government has lost control over unscrupulous increases in the price of fuel.
Locals said that the fuel tanker had veered off the road to avoid head-on collision with another vehicle, but lost control and crashed.
The tanker, with registration number KMC 641 F, which was said to have been driven by one Yusuf Mohammad, took off from Kano and was heading for Nguru in Yobe State when the incident occured.
DSP Lawan Shiisu Adam, the Police Public Relations Officer in Jigawa State, confirmed the incident to newsmen in Dutse, yesterday, adding that the injured had been taken to different hospitals for medical attention.
“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 another 50 people severely injured, who were then rushed to Ringim and Hadejia General Hospitals for treatment,” he said.
Jigawa State’s Commissioner of Police, Ahmad Abdullahi, extended condolences to the people of Majia town and the state at large, urging citizens to exercise caution and avoid scenes of petrol tanker accidents.
The state governor, Malam Umar Namadi, expressed sadness over the incident and sympathised with the families of the victims.
Malam Hamza Ibrahim said he lost four of his children to the explosion. Among them was Hassan Hamza 28, who just graduated from College of Health Technology, Jahun.
Malam Hamza said Hassan was an upright young man who went to the scene of the explosion where people were scooping petrol, to send them home, but was consumed by the fire.
“Hassan was indeed a very nice boy. I have never seen him fighting with anyone. He just obtained a national diploma in Pharmacy and currently working with Khadija Clinic here in Majia. We only pray that God forgives his shortcomings,” the father said.
Yusuf Hamza, Saidu Hamza and Mustapha Hamza were the three other sons of Malam Hamza, who also died in the fire.
A younger brother to Malam Hamza, Ilyasu Ibrahim, also lost his son, Yahya Ilyasu, to the incident and another son, Abbas Ilyasu was rushed to the Hadejia General Hospital and later transferred to the General Medical Center, Nguru.
Few meters away from the residence of Ibrahim and his brother, Muhammad Sabitu Haruna was seen mourning the death of his son, Sani Sabitu, who until his death was running a business centre in Majia. Sani left behind two wives and eight children.
Like Hassan Hamza, Sani went to the scene to send away his younger siblings who were scooping fuel.
“Just recently he was offered a job. He was here after Magrib (sunset) prayer and when the truck fell, his mother asked him to go and chase his younger ones from the scene, but as fate would have it, he died while some of his siblings sustained severe fire burns”, Haruna said.
Malam Ibrahim Lawan Majia, a Qur’anic school teacher said five of his pupils died in the incident.
“It is a terrible lesson for people not only here in Majia,” he said.
“When something like this happens, people should refrain from scooping fuel. It is very dangerous,” he said.
He prayed for the repose of the souls of those who died in the accident and for the quick recovery of those hospitalised.
Another resident, Abdullahi Salisu, said he lost his uncle, Tsoho Umar, while two brothers, Habun Salisu and Murtala Ado, sustained fire burns.
Also among the people that died from the tanker explosion is a Mobile Police Inspector, Kasimu Habu, who was said to have been recuperating from a gunshot wound he sustained fighting bandits.
It was gathered that most of the victims were young people whose ages ranged from 19 to 23.
At the Ringim General Hospital were people with three-degree burns covering face, head and body. An official told Daily Trust that many others were transferred to the Malam Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano.
Also among the victims were 45-year-old Lami Samaila and 17-year- old Usman Abdulmumin.
Some others were taken to the Hadejia General Hospital, Rasheed Shekoni Federal University Teaching Hospital, Dutse as well as the General Hospitals in Gumel and Jahun.
The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has urged doctors to rush to emergency rooms to help with the influx of patients.
The association said doctors and nurses on ground in various hospitals were already overwhelmed even as many victims were in dire need of attention.
Corps Marshal, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Shehu Mohammed, said the incident was caused by neglect of safety rules.
A statement signed by the Corps Public Education Officer, Olusegun Ogungbemide, said the corps marshal urged all road users to exercise caution and always await FRSC emergency and rescue operatives to handle any of such emergencies.
He stated that it behoves the Corps to advise the public whenever an incident of this nature occurs.
“The lone crash which had no casualties as the driver and conductor survived without any injuries, occurred when the DAF tanker loaded with Premium Motor Spirit attempted to dodge a speed bump while on high speed. The resultant impact of the driver’s action while on high speed, detached the tanker from the body of the articulated vehicle,” he explained.
Mohammed directed further investigation into the crash. He also issued orders to commanding officers at the various tank farms to expedite action towards ensuring that all tankers observe the minimum safety standards before they are allowed to convey inflammable substances.
Meanwhile, President Bola Tinubu has directed the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, to lead a federal government delegation to Jigawa, in response to the inferno.
A statement by presidential spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, said the government delegation will comprise the Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar; Minister of Transportation, Senator Saidu Alkali; Corps Marshall of the FRSC, Mr. Mohammed; and the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement (North West), Abdullahi Tanko Yakasai.
While in Jigawa, the delegation will visit the scene of the incident to assess the situation and visit injured persons in various hospitals, it was gathered.
President Tinubu further directed that emergency aid, including medical supplies, food, and shelter, be extended to the victims receiving treatment and others affected by the fire.
The president commiserated with the state government and families of the victims, and prayed for divine comfort for the bereaved families and the peaceful repose for the souls of the departed. (Courtesy: Daily Trust)
