Jigawa tanker explosion deaths rise to 170
More than 20 additional victims of Majia petrol tanker explosion in Jigawa state who were hospitalised have died as at Thursday morning, raising the death toll to more than 170 people.
More than 153 lives were lost in the incident on Wednesday, while close to one hundred were evacuated to Ringim, Hadejia, and Jahun General Hospitals, as well as Federal Medical Centre Birnin Kudu for treatment.
Wednesday’s rescue efforts were conducted by multiple stakeholders, including the Jigawa State Fire Service, Nigeria Civil Defence and Security Corps, Nigerian Red Cross Society, Jamaatu Nasrul Islam, state and national emergency management agencies, and others.
Those who died on the spot were buried in a mass grave on Wednesday, with Governor Umar Namadi, who joined in performing the funeral prayer and mass burial of the deceased, expressing deep sorrow over the tragic incident.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the victims during this painful time. We stand in solidarity with those who have lost loved ones and those injured in this tragic incident,” he said, and pledged that the state government will cater to the treatment of all those injured in the inferno.
He had also promised assistance for families of affected victims and to put in measures for preventing such tragedies in the future.
