Jigawa Tanker Explosion: Death toll hits 181

Jigawa state has confirmed that the death toll recorded in last week’s tanker explosion in the state has risen to 181.

This was disclosed by the Jigawa State Governor, Umar Namadi, on Tuesday.

The Governor revealed that explosion affected 210 families and left 80 persons hospitalized.

Namadi held a closed-door meeting with President Bola Tinubu at the Aso Rock Villa, Abuja, where he intimated the latter on the current development.

“The situation, as of today, is that we have about 181 people who died, about 80 people in the hospitals, and about 210 families affected,” Namadi said.

The tragic incident occured on October 15 when a petrol tanker moving from Kano to Yobe overturned near Majiya village, Taura Local Government Area.

After the tanker began spilling fuel, nearby villagers rushed to scoop fuek for themselves.

The villagers were at it when the tanker exploded, leading to instant fatalities.

The President has mandated the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, to overseer a Federal Government delegation to Jigawa state.

Jigawa’s immediate ex-governor, now the Minister of Defence, Mohammed Abubakar; Minister of Transportation, Saidu Alkali; Corps Marshal of the Federal Roads Safety Commission, Mr Shehu Mohammed; and the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement (North West), Abdullahi Yakasai are all part of the delegation.

The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau has also begun investigations into the explosion.

“I came to see Mr President, first of all, to welcome him back from his annual leave, and secondly, to brief him on what happened to us: the tragic tanker accident that occurred in Jigawa State, which claimed many lives.

So I felt it was important to come and brief the President on what happened and what we are doing as a government, and also to thank him for sending a delegation to the state immediately after the incident.

“This action taken by the President was really appreciated by the people of Jigawa State, and I felt it was right to come and thank him for that and to brief him about the situation, about where we are and what we are trying to do,” Namadi stated.