The explosion, it was gathered, occurred around midnight on Tuesday when the driver of the tanker, travelling from Kano to Nguru in Yobe State, lost control near Khadija University, Majiya.
According to the police, the disaster was triggered by residents who had rushed to scoop spilt petrol after the tanker overturned.
“The residents were scooping fuel from the overturned tanker when the explosion occurred, sparking a massive inferno that killed 94 people on the spot.
“The incident left another 50 people severely injured, who were then rushed to Ringim and Hadejia General Hospitals for treatment.” Police Public Relations Officer of Jigawa State Command, DSP Lawan Adam, explained in a statement.
DSP Adam described the scene as a “horrific tragedy,” emphasising the need for the public to understand the risks associated with scooping fuel from accident scenes.
