A Nigerian farmer, Mustapha Majiya, has recounted how he lost nearly 50 members of his extended family to the Jigawa tanker explosion.
Tontrends had reported that a fuel-ladened tanker crashed in Majiya village of Taura local government area of Jigawa state at about 12.30am on Wednesday, October 16.
The spokesperson of the state police command, SP Shi’isu Adam, had in a statement released said that many of the victims were trying to scoop petrol from the vehicle after it tipped over.
In an interview with BBC, Majiya said his nephews tried to steer people away from the scene but were unlucky as an explosion occurred afterwards.
“My nephews, Nuradeen Rabiu, 16, and Dini Babalo, 17, were among those killed. They tried to stop people from getting too close to the tanker and scooping fuel before the explosion. I just bought them books and new uniforms for the term,” Majiya said of his nephews who were both in their fourth year at the town’s secondary school.
The 50-year-old also said he lost Jamilu Maigaji, a long-time friend and father of 13 children, among others in the inferno.
“Some people were just onlookers and didn’t understand the dangers of being around the scene,” Majiya added.
The farmer said he accepts God’s will as the giver and taker of life.
The death toll from the incident has been placed at 181.