MAJIYA: An explosion following a fuel tanker accident in northern Nigeria has killed more than 140 people, officials said on Wednesday and feared that the toll may rise further.
The incident occurred on Tuesday in the town of Majiya, Jigawa state, as crowds rushed to collect fuel spilling from the crashed tanker, exacerbated by the country’s ongoing economic crisis.
According to police, the fuel tanker swerved to avoid another vehicle, leading to the crash. After the accident, residents gathered around the vehicle to scoop up the fuel that spilled onto the road and into nearby drains, despite attempts by law enforcement to disperse the crowd.
Police spokesman Lawan Shiisu Adam noted that the situation quickly became chaotic, overwhelming the officers present.
Nura Abdullahi, a spokesman for the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), confirmed that “more than 140 people” had been buried in a mass grave, with fears that the number of casualties could increase as more victims are identified.
In response to the tragedy, the Nigerian Medical Association has urged doctors to report to nearby emergency rooms to assist with the influx of patients. Nigerian lawmakers observed a minute of silence in the Senate to honor the victims of the disaster.
Nigerian Vice President Kashim Shettima on Wednesday called for a comprehensive safety review in the wake of the explosion. He also announced that the federal government would be sending resources to support those affected by the tragedy.
Fuel tanker explosions are a recurring issue in Nigeria, where poorly maintained roads and a culture of siphoning fuel from accidents contribute to the dangers.
The price of petrol has surged fivefold since President Bola Ahmed Tinubu removed subsidies last year, resulting in frequent shortages and increased desperation among the populace. This week, the state oil company raised prices for the second time in just over a month.
Accidents involving fuel tankers are alarmingly common in Nigeria. The Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) reported 1,531 such incidents in 2020, resulting in 535 fatalities. Just last month, a collision between a fuel tanker and a truck in northwestern Niger state led to at least 59 deaths.
Overall, more than 5,000 individuals died in road accidents in Nigeria in 2023, according to the FRSC, though the World Health Organization estimates that the actual annual road accident deaths could be as high as 40,000 due to underreporting.
