More than 140 people, including children, have died, and dozens were injured after an overturned gasoline tanker exploded in Majiya town, Jigawa state, Nigeria, as locals attempted to scoop up leaking fuel, emergency officials reported on Wednesday.
The incident occurred late Tuesday when the driver of the tanker lost control, causing it to overturn on the highway. Police spokesperson Lawan Adam stated that as residents rushed to collect the spilled fuel, a massive fire erupted, claiming numerous lives.
“Close to 140 people were buried in a mass grave, apart from those buried elsewhere,” said Nura Abdullahi, head of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) in the region. Most victims were burned beyond recognition, and a mass burial was held for the deceased on Wednesday.
Such tragic accidents are common in Nigeria, where lax enforcement of traffic regulations and inadequate rail transport have resulted in frequent fuel-related incidents. The practice of salvaging fuel has become more prevalent due to skyrocketing fuel prices, which have tripled since last year following the government’s removal of fuel subsidies.
Dr. Haruna Mairiga, head of Jigawa emergency services, noted that many victims were unaware of the dangers associated with retrieving fuel from the scene. “If they knew, they wouldn’t have gone to fetch it,” Mairiga said.
Witnesses described a chaotic scene. “The fire spread so quickly that many couldn’t escape,” said Sani Umar, a local resident. State police Commissioner Ahmadu Abdullahi expressed the community’s grief, calling it a “heartbreaking moment for us all.”
Emergency services arrived several hours after the accident, but by then, most of the damage had been done.
