A tragic fuel tanker explosion in northern Nigeria has claimed the lives of over 150 people, who had gathered to collect leaking petrol after the tanker overturned.
The explosion occurred in Majia town, located in the Taura local government area of Jigawa state, about 530 kilometers north of the capital, Abuja.
According to local police reports, the victims were burned beyond recognition, and many others were critically injured. The injured have been transported to a nearby hospital for urgent medical treatment.
Witnesses described how crowds of people rushed to the scene to scoop up the leaking fuel when the tanker exploded, triggering a massive fire that caused widespread devastation. Authorities have expressed concerns over the dangerous practice of attempting to collect fuel from accident sites, which has often led to deadly explosions in the past.
This incident adds to a series of fatal accidents in Nigeria involving fuel tankers, highlighting ongoing safety concerns surrounding fuel transportation and public response to such emergencies.