More than 140 people, including children, lost their lives after a gasoline tanker overturned and exploded in flames while residents attempted to collect fuel from the leaking vehicle in Jigawa state, Nigeria. The tragedy occurred at midnight in Majiya town when the tanker’s driver lost control of the vehicle. Residents rushed to scoop up the spilling fuel, which ignited a massive fire, according to police spokesperson Lawan Adam.
Nura Abdullahi, head of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), confirmed that nearly 140 people were buried in a mass grave, with others laid to rest in different locations. The bodies were mostly unrecognizable, emergency services said, as grieving residents held a mass burial for the victims.
The accident highlights the frequent occurrence of deadly tanker accidents in Nigeria, where traffic regulations are poorly enforced, and fuel prices have tripled since last year, leading to more people risking their lives to collect fuel. Emergency responders arrived several hours after the explosion, and authorities continue to assess the extent of the damage.
“This is a heartbreaking moment for us all,” said Jigawa state police commissioner Ahmadu Abdullahi, as the community mourns the devastating loss of lives.