Many killed in Jigawa tanker explosion

A fuel tanker exploded Wednesday in Jigawa, State, killing at least 147 people who rushed to the scene of the accident to collect leaking petrol, officials say.

The fire engulfed the overturned vehicle, which had been cordoned off by officers after it crashed, the Police said.

About 100 other people injured in the explosion have been taken to hospital in the nearby town of Ringim in Jigawa state, many of them are in a critical condition.

Officers had warned people not to approach the tanker after the accident late on Tuesday night, but they were unable to contain the growing crowd, said Police spokesman Lawal Shiisu Adam.

“We tried our best to stop people going to the vehicle to get petrol but despite cordoning off the area, we were overpowered and as people were scooping fuel, fire erupted,” he told the BBC.

The crash happened in the town of Majia at around 23:30 local time (22:30 GMT), he said.

“The fuel tanker was coming from Kano and heading to Nguru in Yobe state when the driver lost control of the vehicle.”

The driver, who was not injured, has been taken into custody while the Police conduct an investigation.

“Fire service and other emergency units rushed to the scene to help after the incident,” Mr Adam said.

Many of the victims have been burnt beyond recognition. The recovered bodies have been covered by tree branches to shield them from onlookers.

Rescue workers have been finding more bodies , some a considerable distance from the scene of the accident. They had presumably been trying to get help before succumbing to their injuries, a police spokesman told the BBC.

Most of those who died have been buried in a mass ceremony.

Fuel tanker explosions and accidents are common in Nigeria , often caused by the poor state of roads and badly maintained vehicles.

As the clear-up operation was under way in Jigawa, there was another fuel tanker accident in Ibafo, Ogun State.

This fuel tanker overturned on a major road in on Wednesday morning

It overturned on Wednesday morning on a main road in front of a commercial bank, spilling petrol before bursting into flames.

The fire ravaged the area damaging other lorries. No-one was injured in the incident, but it is estimated to have caused thousands of naira worth of damage.

In September, 59 people died in Niger state after a fuel tanker collided with a lorry carrying passengers and cattle.