Two Years After 170 Deaths, Jigawa Residents Risk Lives Scooping Fuel

Barely two years after a tanker explosion claimed greater than 170 lives in Jigawa State, residents on Saturday evening gathered round a fallen gasoline tanker to scoop its contents.

The incident occurred at about 9:30 pm alongside Maiduguri Road, close to Kiyawa Roundabout in Kiyawa Local Government Area, after a petrol-laden tanker fell and spilled its contents.

The growth attracted a big crowd of residents and passersby, a few of whom reportedly arrived with buckets, containers and different gadgets to gather the spilled gasoline.

THE WHISTLER reported that in October 2024 in Majia, Taura Local Government Area, a tanker explosion killed greater than 170 individuals and injured a number of others after residents rushed to scoop gasoline from a fallen tanker.

On Saturday, officers of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), the Federal Fire Service and safety operatives mobilised to the scene and prevented the residents.

Speaking with journalists on Sunday, the FRSC Public Relations Officer in Jigawa State, Yahaya Ibrahim, stated officers of the corps had cordoned off the realm to forestall residents from getting near the tanker and avert a doable hearth outbreak.

He attributed the accident to the driving force’s lack of alertness, explaining that the driving force fell asleep whereas driving.

“The driver sustained injuries as a result of the accident,” Ibrahim stated, including that he was receiving medical consideration at Kiyawa General Hospital.

Also the Public Relations Officer of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Jigawa State Command, Badaruddeen Tijjani, stated the tanker fell alongside Maiduguri Road close to Kiyawa Roundabout at about 9:30 pm on Saturday and began spilling gasoline.