The death toll from a tragic fuel tanker explosion in northern Nigeria has risen to at least 153, with over 100 people injured, according to police reports. The explosion occurred on Tuesday evening in Majiya, a village in Jigawa state, after the tanker crashed, spilling fuel as locals tried to collect it.
Jigawa police spokesperson Shiisu Lawan Adam explained, “The driver lost control, causing the tanker to overturn and spill fuel into a drainage. Residents rushed to scoop the fuel when the explosion occurred.”
A mass burial for some victims took place on Wednesday, as the community mourns what is being described as the worst tragedy in its history. Umar Majiya, who lost his 12-year-old nephew in the explosion, shared his grief: “People are feeling very sad. This type of incident has never happened in the community.”
Nigeria’s Vice President, Kashim Shettima, expressed his condolences in a statement, saying, “This devastating incident has shaken us to our core. The Federal Government stands with the people of Jigawa and is mobilizing resources to support the injured and families affected.”
Shettima also called for an immediate review of fuel transportation safety protocols following the explosion, which comes just a month after a similar accident claimed 48 lives in Niger state.
Fuel tanker explosions are tragically common in Nigeria, where gasoline shortages and high prices drive people to risk their lives in the pursuit of spilled fuel. In 2020 alone, more than 500 people lost their lives in over 1,500 fuel tanker accidents across the country, according to the nation’s road safety agency.
Gas prices have surged dramatically since the removal of fuel subsidies, increasing the dangers associated with fuel transportation and retrieval as poverty persists despite Nigeria’s status as one of Africa’s leading oil producers.
