104 residents of Jigawa State residents who lost their lives in a tanker explosion have been buried in mass graves in the State after a tanker while trying to avoid head on collision with an upcoming vehicle, veered-off the road and thereafter exploded.
An unspecified number of the victims were burnt beyond recognition in the incident that occured in the early hours of Wednesday in Majiya town, Taura Local Government Area of the State where they were scooping fuel tanker that was involved in a crash.
The State Sector Commander, Federal Road Safety Commission, Aisha Saidu who confirmed this to newsmen, said some for the fatalities are among the 97 victims that died before the death toll hit 104.
She said survivors who were rescued through a joint effort by security agencies, including the Nigeria Police have been admitted to three health facilities in the State.
The FRSC Commander, explained that security personnel had attempted to restrain victims who ignored the warning alarm and besieged the scene.
She noted that in the process, lost control and fell, spilling its content, while the tanker driver now in police custody and his apprentice had left the scene, two hours after the accident before the explosion occurred.
“They went into the farm and started scooping the fuel”, according to Saidu who said those who died were burnt beyond recognition.
The crash that occured was very minor because he driver and his motor boy were able to leave that place safely. But, two hours after the crash, the explosion happened”.
“We should not look at how much we want to gain in scooping fuel. The money you are going to gain is not worth the death”, Saidu expressed fear that the casualty figure may soar in the coming days.
Meanwhile,.President Bola Tinubu has sent a high level delegation led by George Akume, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation to Jigawa State to condole with the people of Jigawa and the State government over the tragic incident.
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