By Ayooluwa Ayobami
Over 100 people have been reported dead with more than 50 hospitalised when a petrol tanker crashed in Majiya town of Taura local government area of Jigawa State.
The Emergency Response Team of National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Kano Territorial Office (KTO) after responding to a distress call from the Jigawa State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) reported that 147 lives were lost in the incident, while numerous injured individuals were transported to Ringim, Hadejia, Jahun General Hospitals, and the Federal Medical Centre in Birnin Kudu for treatment after the administration of first aid.
They added that numerous stakeholders played key roles in the emergency response and casualties evaluation, including he Jigawa State Fire Service, Nigeria Civil Defence and Security Corps (NCDSC), Nigerian Red Cross Society, World Health Organization (WHO), Jamaatu Nasrul Islam, and others.
The Jigawa Police spokesman DSP Lawal Shiisu Adams also confirmed the incident in a statement.
He said: “Today (Wednesday) a petrol tanker from Port Harcourt going to Nguru in Yobe state reached Majiya village of Taura local government area at around 12:30am the driver lost control at Majiya and falls down.
“The content in the tanker flooded gutters and drainages in village. The villagers started fetching the fuel where the the petrol going in to flame.
“As a result 95 people confirmed died and 50 have been hospitalised receiving treatment”.
