Man recounts death of 50 family members in Jigawa tanker explosion 

A northern Nigerian man has recounted how he lost over 50 members of his extended family during the recent Jigawa tanker explosion which claimed at least 170 lives, leaving many severely injured.

Mustapha Majiya is a local farmer, who lost nearly 50 members of his extended family in the tragedy. Among them were his two nephews, Nuradeen Rabiu (16) and Dini Babalo (17), who died while attempting to prevent people from scooping fuel from the leaking tanker. “They tried to stop others from getting too close,” Majiya said as he struggled to comprehend the loss of his nephews, who were still in secondary school, the BBC reported.

The explosion happened after the tanker, laden with petrol, crashed on a poorly lit road. Once residents noticed the fuel spill, many rushed to collect it, ignoring warnings about the dangers. The accident, which occurred in the middle of a fuel shortage crisis and soaring petrol prices, drew people desperate to secure any fuel they could find.

Meanwhile, Mustapha is not alone in the whole tragedy, Malam Ibrahim Lawan Majia, a Quranic school teacher, said five of his pupils died in the incident.

“It is a terrible lesson for people not only here in Majia. When something like this happens, people should refrain from scooping fuel. It is very dangerous,” he said in the BBC report.

Another resident, Abdullahi Salisu, said he lost his uncle, Tsoho Umar, while two brothers, Habun Salisu and Murtala Ado, sustained burns in the fire.

Jamilu Maigaji, a close friend of Majiya, was also killed in the blast. The 55-year-old, a father of 13, had been among those at the scene when the tanker exploded about an hour after the crash. According to Majiya, many people did not fully understand the risk of being near the site.

READ ALSO: Northern govs donate N1bn to Jigawa tanker explosion victims

Government’s intervention:

In response to the tragic incident, the Northern States Governors’ Forum (NSGF), led by Gombe State Governor Muhammadu Yahaya, donated N900 million to assist victims and the affected community. Each of the 18 northern governors, excluding Jigawa State, contributed N50 million to support rehabilitation efforts.

During a visit to Jigawa, Governor Yahaya stressed the need for collective action in times of tragedy, noting that the donation aims to alleviate the suffering caused by the explosion.

He expressed his sorrow over the loss of lives, particularly the young victims who held great promise for the future.

“The purpose of the visit is to commiserate with the government and people of Jigawa because the incident is a sad history of not only Jigawa but Nigeria as a whole and we feel at this point to show you our solidarity; we must support you, we must encourage you as your colleagues so that you can overcome this challenge.

“As people of faith, we all agree that whatever happens is from God Almighty, and we thank Him for everything since we cannot change it,” Mr Yahaya said.

Governor Umar Namadi of Jigawa expressed deep gratitude for the solidarity shown by his colleagues, acknowledging that the contribution would provide much-needed relief for survivors and the families of those lost. This gesture highlights the regional unity in addressing the aftermath of the disaster, while efforts to rebuild and heal continue.

Investigations

The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB), in response, deployed a team of experts to the scene to assess the incident, identify its causes, and offer safety recommendations to prevent future occurrences.

The Director General of NSIB, Captain Alex Badeh Jr., expressed condolences to the victims’ families and reaffirmed the bureau’s commitment to uncovering the root cause of the disaster.

“We extend our heartfelt condolences to the families affected by this devastating accident. The NSIB is committed to uncovering the cause of the explosion and ensuring that safety lessons are learned,” said Captain Alex Badeh Jr., Director General of the NSIB

Despite government promises to investigate the cause of the explosion, many remain sceptical. Past investigations into similar accidents have rarely resulted in prosecutions or compensation for victims’ families.