Feature: Nigerians hold mass burial for victims of fuel tanker explosion

by Olatunji Saliu
ABUJA, Oct. 18 (Xinhua) — The quiet town of Majiya in northern Nigeria was plunged into grief on Wednesday as at least 153 people were laid to rest in a mass grave following a tragic tanker explosion earlier this week.
Grieving families and loved ones wept over the sudden loss of their relatives, most of whom were burned beyond recognition, said local authorities.
The incident occurred late Tuesday when a gasoline-laden tanker overturned while trying to avoid ramming into a stationary truck on an expressway in Jigawa State. A large crowd then rushed to collect the spilled fuel before the tanker exploded, leading to at least 153 deaths and around 100 injuries, local media reported.
At the Ringim General Hospital, a government-run facility, victims were seen battling to survive. The hospital quickly ran out of bed space after admitting at least 55 rescued victims, while another 55 were transferred to the Federal Medical Center, said local authorities.
“The pain is so deep. This sorrow is unbearable. Life has dealt me a terrible blow. I cannot bear it at all,” lamented Mohammed Abubakar, a survivor, after losing his father in the explosion.
The tragedy has sparked nationwide grief, with the Nigerian Senate observing a moment of silence for the victims.
While many Nigerians attributed the accident to the current economic hardship, which has driven people to desperate actions, others are calling for stricter traffic regulations to prevent similar disasters.
“It is about time we explore other means, like rail, for transporting petroleum products around the country,” said Atiku Abubakar, a former vice president of Nigeria.
Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, in a statement issued on Wednesday, described the incident as “devastating” and directed a delegation of senior officials to offer condolences to the families of the deceased, assess the damage, and visit the injured in hospitals.
Tinubu also ordered the provision of emergency aid, including medical supplies, food and shelter, for those injured and others affected by the explosion.
He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to swiftly reviewing and enhancing fuel transportation safety protocols and directed police to strengthen measures, such as increased patrols, stricter enforcement of safety regulations, and other highway safety mechanisms, to prevent similar incidents from reoccurring. ■