Muhammad Garba
Parents, friends, brothers, and sisters narrated their horror and Sorrow from the Tanker explosion which so far led to the death of over 171 young men and left 71 others with saver burnt in Majiya town of Taura local government area in Jigawa state.
“I was watching helplessly when many of my schoolmates including three of my classroom mates burnt to ashes in the tanker explosion accident,” said Amiru Ismail, an SS 2 student of Government Day Senior Secondary School Majia, Taura local government Jigawa state.
Amiru Ismail Majia, an eyewitness, said he was not more than 40 meters away from the first explosion and then the second one from the Petroleum tanker.
“The tanker fell at around 11:30 and knowing the danger the security quickly condoned the place to prevent people from getting there”
“Unfortunately the petroleum spilled through the gutter to another point where people started scooping it, even at that point there was an attempt to disperse the people but they resisted.
“To me, economic hardship is one of the contributory factors that made people defy security warnings and move ahead to scooping the spilled petroleum in the gutter while some number
“I saw when a mobile police an indigene of Majia who was on medical leave from his station named Kasim Habu went there warning people of the danger but unfortunately before he left the place the explosion occurred and he met his untimely death.”
Three of my classroom mates, Sani Umar 17 years old, Yusuf Haruna, and Saidu Haladu, but many students died in the accident as 90 percent of the victims were youths.”
Malama Rabi Salisu who lost her 22-year-old son Ibrahim Salisu said when the accident occurred the whole town was thrown into confusion and commotion as parents were busy looking for their children and loved ones.
“I joined in searching for my child Ibrahim but I could not see him that very night, though I still have hope that, my child was alive hiding somewhere for safety.
“In the following morning of Wednesday we kept on searching with the hope of getting him alive until after the mass burial of 107 victims my hope was dashed and concluded that he was in the mass grave ” Rabi stated while shading tears
The bodies of the victims were burnt beyond recognition and no one could identify their loved ones, every family was made to assume their child had gone after 20 hours of searching without seeing him in the town.
As the Majia community continues to count for the loss of their young and able children, the data from the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) as of Friday morning the death toll has risen to 172.
Visiting the hospitals it was learned that, all the more than 75 survivors were in intensive Care Units (ICU) and could only be accessed by medical personnel on duty and some personnel on special duty.
Malam Isa Mainingi who lost three of his children said he was forced to accept his children were in the mass grave after all searches to lay his eyes on them proved abortive.
“I can’t say anything, except to pray to Almighty Allah to give their souls eternal rest in the Jannatul Firdausi,” Mai-Ningi stated
Speaking to Leadership Weekend another eyewitness Ibrahim Shehu said, that when the tanker fell down the petroleum started spilling through the gutter.
He noted that the people started scooping the petroleum in different containers, and in that process, the fire caught off and spread to the tanker which exploded within seconds
“The fire was not started from the tanker it started from the gutter where people gathered scooping the petroleum.
“Honestly speaking police and Civil Defense Corps had tried to stop people from scooping the petroleum but they were overpowered, unfortunately, see what happened,” the eye witness stated.
Mustapha Shehu who lost his 25-year-old brother in the inferno said, every family in the town had directly lost their loved ones, this is the biggest catastrophe we ever had in the history of Majia town.
“Everybody in this town is in mourning we have nothing to say than Inalillahi Wanna Ilaihi rajuun”
For Mustapha Abdusalam Majiya who was physically and emotionally touched, and couldn’t control the tears drop from his eyes said, he lost over 50 of his blood brothers.
“I told you we have an extended family in Majiya, as of now we are counting more than 50 whom we have lost in the tragedy from sons and grandsons of our family”
“I can’t add anything except Innalillahi Wanna Ilaihi Rajiun,” Mustapha.
In his remarks when he received Kano state governor at Dutse Government House, Jigawa state Governor Malam Umar Namadi said, the Tanker explosion was the biggest catastrophe in the history of the state.
He explained that, as the number of deaths continued to rise, it was very terrifying to note that, over 90 percent of the victims were youth.
In his remarks after visiting the scene the head of the Federal Government Delegation Senator George Akume said, President Tinubu was touched by the huge loss of lives in the accident and assured that all necessary measures would be taken to investigate the accident to take appropriate action to prevent such occurrences.
On his side, Governor Abdulfatah said, the Governor”s Forum Commiserate with the Jigawa state government and all the good people of the state over the accident.
“At our forum, we will discuss the situation and deliberate on the need to enforce more safety measures on our roads,” Abdulfatah stated.
The survivors of the accident mostly sustained over 70% bunt and currently receiving treatment at 5 different hospital
According to Dr. Akinwomi Abdullahi Ademola, Deputy Head of Clinical Services FMC Nguru, the situation is very critical to manage as Doctors spend more than 12 hours treating the casualties.
He noted that the extent of burns is severe, with most patients suffering over 70% of body burns.
“Despite the challenges, medical teams remain committed to rescue the lives of the victims as additional resources were mobilized to cope with the situation,” Dr Akinwomy stated.
As the battle to save the lives of the survivors of the Jigawa tanker explosion continues, the chances of some surviving it are very minimal due to the severity of their condition.
