A Harrowing Tale: A Farmer Recounts the Devastating Loss of 49 Loved Ones in Jigawa Tanker Explosion
Naijawebinfo has obtained an account of the tragedy that befell Mustapha Majiya, who lost nearly 50 members of his extended family in the Jigawa tanker explosion that occurred on Tuesday along the Kano-Hadejia expressway in Taura LGA.
A tanker, carrying petrol, had veered off course and burst into flames after the driver lost control at night, resulting in a catastrophic loss of life.
Jigawa State Police spokesperson, Shi’isu Adam, revealed that many of the victims were attempting to scoop petrol from the vehicle moments before the explosion, despite previous warnings about the dangers of crowds gathering at accident scenes involving petrol tankers.
In an emotional interview with the BBC, Mr. Majiya recounted the untimely deaths of his nephews, Nuradeen Rabiu, 16, and Dini Babalo, 17, who were among the 181 fatalities. He shared that they, along with others, were trying to steer people away from the scene.
Tragically, the pair, students at a local secondary school, had just started the new term, with their uncle having recently purchased new books and uniforms for them.
In addition to the loss of his nephews, Mr. Majiya also mourns the passing of Jamilu Maigaji, his long-time friend and the father of 13 children.
He emphasized that many people were unaware of the risks associated with approaching a burning tanker and got caught up in the chaos.
