At least 94 persons have died and 50 others have been injured following a fuel tanker explosion.
The tragic incident which occurred in Jigawa State on Tuesday has been attributed to the community members desperately attempted to scoop spilled fuel from the ground after the accident.
Responding on the incident on Wednesday, the state police command spokesperson, DSP Lawan Shiisu said “When the accident occurred people started rushing to scoop fuel and in the process, fire ignited from nowhere which led to the death of many persons and injured many others.
“Despite the efforts of the police, who had cordoned off the area and issued warnings to the public, people resisted and started scooping the fuel, triggering a devastating explosion.”
Shiisu added that the police struggled to keep control of the scene, with many bystanders ignoring warnings and moving dangerously close to the accident site.
“The tanker, loaded with petrol, ignited shortly after the crash, causing an inferno that engulfed numerous people in the vicinity.
“The injured were immediately rushed to General Hospital at Ringim, where medical personnel are working around the clock to treat the victims. However, the death toll is likely to rise as several of the injured remain in critical condition,” he stated.
He also warned people to always stay away from such incident sites to avoid loss of lives and property.
