A mass burial has been held for the 140 victims of the petrol tanker explosion that occurred in Majiya, a town in Taura Local Government Area of Jigawa State, on Wednesday.

Approximately 90 other individuals affected by the tragedy are currently receiving treatment in various hospitals across the state.

The explosion happened around midnight on Tuesday when the tanker, en route from Kano to Nguru in Yobe State, lost control near Khadija University in Majiya. The tanker, which had departed Kano, exploded after the driver lost control.

According to police reports, the incident was triggered when residents rushed to scoop petrol from the overturned tanker.

“The residents were gathering fuel from the tanker when it exploded, resulting in a massive fire that claimed 94 lives on the spot,” said DSP Lawan Adam, Police Public Relations Officer of the Jigawa State Command, in a statement.

“An additional 50 people sustained severe injuries and were transported to Ringim and Hadejia General Hospitals for medical care,” DSP Adam added, describing the incident as a “horrific tragedy” and warning the public about the dangers of scooping fuel from accident sites.

Following the explosion, the Federal Government, through the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, has directed the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority to investigate the incident.

In a statement released on Wednesday and signed by Nneamaka Okafor, Special Adviser on Media and Communications, the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, expressed profound regret over the tragic event.

“The Minister of Petroleum Resources, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, has expressed deep sorrow over the tanker explosion in Majiya, Jigawa State, which claimed over 100 lives and injured dozens more,” the statement said.

“On behalf of the Ministry of Petroleum Resources and the Federal Government, we extend our heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims, and we wish the injured a swift recovery.”

The Minister also urged Nigerians to avoid gathering near vehicles transporting petroleum products involved in accidents, emphasising the dangers of such actions.

Furthermore, he called on petroleum transporters to employ only certified drivers who adhere to safety standards as stipulated by the Federal Road Safety Corps.