Jigawa Governor Reports 181 Dead, 80 Hospitalized After Tanker Explosion, Seeks Federal Support

Jigawa State Governor, Umah Namadi, has reported that 181 people have died following a tanker explosion in the state, while another 80 are in critical condition receiving treatment at hospitals. Namadi shared this information during a visit to the Presidential Villa on Tuesday, where he briefed President Bola Tinubu on the tragic incident.

The explosion occurred on October 15 in Majia, Taura Local Government Area, when a petrol-laden tanker traveling from Kano to Nguru in Yobe State exploded. The disaster claimed over 100 lives on the spot, with many others injured while attempting to scoop fuel from the site.

According to the governor, around 210 families were affected by the explosion. He said, "I came here to brief Mr. President about what happened to us, the tragic incident in Jigawa State which claimed many lives. We felt it was important to inform him about our response as a government and to thank him for sending a delegation immediately after the incident."

Governor Namadi added that the state government has taken responsibility for the medical expenses of all the victims and has provided interventions to support the affected families in maintaining their livelihoods. He also mentioned that President Tinubu has promised additional assistance for the victims.

To address the situation, a high-level committee led by a retired Deputy Inspector General of Police has been set up to investigate the root causes of the incident and recommend appropriate actions to the government. The governor said, "Mr. President has also directed the Corps Marshal to investigate this matter and come up with a permanent solution to prevent such occurrences in the future."