by Admin
Oct 17, 2024
It was a dark day in Jigawa, a state in northern Nigeria when an oil tanker fell on the expressway and exploded killing over 150 people and injuring dozens others.
The explosion occurred when the oil tanker fell and people rushed to scoop up fuel from the fallen tanker when the explosion happened.
Confirming the incident is Lawan Shiisu Adamu, the Jigawa State Police spokesman said the oil tanker was coming from Kano state into Jigawa state when it fell off the expressway in the town of Majia, Jigawa state.
He said “The residents were scooping up fuel from the overturned tanker when the explosion occurred, sparking a massive inferno”.
He further explained that the fallen tanker fell while avoiding a collision with another incoming oil tanker but lost its control while moving at a speed of 110km.
It was reported that over 50 wounded people were taken to local hospitals in the neighboring towns of Ringim and Hadejia where they were being treated, police and emergency workers said.
The Nigerian Medical Association has urged available doctors to move down to nearby emergency rooms to help in the emergency situations patients.
However, the Nigerian senate observed a minute’s silence in the Senate.
Kashim Shettima, the Nigerian vice president has expressed his condolences and called for concerns over the safety of road users, he assured that the federal government was sending resources to support those affected.
This will be the second time in two months that a fuel tanker explosion has killed people in Nigeria.
Last month, at least 48 people were killed in Niger state, north central Nigeria when an oil tanker collided with a tanker.