The death toll from the devastating fuel tanker explosion in Majiya, Jigawa State, has tragically climbed to 168, with over 100 injured individuals still receiving treatment in hospitals across the region.
The explosion, which occurred on Tuesday, continues to leave a deep scar on the community, as survivors and families of the victims grapple with the loss of their loved ones.
Among the survivors is Sabitu Yahaya, who narrowly escaped death but lost two of his younger siblings in the explosion.
Yahaya, while recounting his traumatic experience to DAILY POST, revealed that he was severely burned while attempting to rescue his younger brothers who were at the scene when the tanker exploded.
According to him: “I fell victim when I went in search of my younger ones to drag them away from the scene. Although, there were people who took advantage of the situation to scoop fuel, many of us were there to warn our relations because we know the implications. But we got trapped on getting there.
“I was a bit far away from the scene, so I only got burnt from my knees down to my legs because the petrol splashed around on the ground.
“The fire was never ignited by match stick as nobody went there with matches; it was caused by frictions from metals used by the people to fetch the petrol.
“In my family, we lost two while three of us were in the hospital bed. I got burnt from my knees down to my legs.”
Authorities have moved quickly in response to the tragedy. The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, along with the Minister of Defence, Muhammad Badaru Abubakar, and other top government officials, visited the state to express their condolences and offer support.
Senator Akume assured the victims and their families that the federal government would provide necessary assistance, noting that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had directed an immediate investigation by the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) to determine the cause of the explosion. He emphasized that anyone found responsible would be held accountable.
Medical personnel attending to the victims have reported that several of the injured are still in critical condition, scattered across hospitals in Jigawa, Yobe, and Kano States. Efforts to interview survivors at the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH) were unsuccessful, as hospital officials enforced strict access rules, allowing only caregivers to see the patients.
