Local government officials joined hundreds of mourners in northern Nigeria on Wednesday for the mass burial of over 140 victims of a devastating tanker explosion.
The tragedy occurred in Majiya, Jigawa state, when an overturned gasoline tanker exploded as residents attempted to collect leaking fuel. The blast caused widespread destruction, leaving most victims’ bodies unidentifiable, according to emergency services.
Officials also visited survivors receiving treatment at a local hospital.
Tanker accidents are common in Nigeria, where inadequate railway infrastructure forces cargo, including fuel, to be transported by road. Many risk their lives to salvage fuel from overturned tankers, especially since fuel prices have soared after the government removed its gas subsidy.
The explosion occurred around midnight when the tanker driver lost control, according to police spokesperson Lawan Adam. Before the “massive inferno” erupted, locals had rushed to collect the leaking fuel.
This incident is not isolated. In September, at least 48 people were killed in a similar accident when a fuel tanker collided with another truck in north-central Nigeria.
The latest tragedy has reignited concerns about the enforcement of safety regulations and traffic laws in Nigeria, where tanker accidents frequently result in fatalities.
