Jigawa: 209 Persons Died In Majia Tanker Explosion, 167 Families Affected, Committee Reveals Finally

By Mohammed Abubakar Dutse

The Committee set up by the Jigawa state government on the October 14 petrol tanker explosion in Majia community Taura local government has disclosed that a total of 209 persons lost their lives in the incident.

The chairman of the committee, Hafiz Muhammad Inuwa, a retired deputy inspector general of police, confirmed the figure while submitting the committee’s report to Governor Umar Namadi on Wednesday.

He said no fewer than 38 people were still receiving treatment in various hospitals, 61 discharge, 167 families affected, while properties worth millions of naira were lost.

The committee which was constituted in the wake of the October 14 explosion, was mandated to establish, among other things, the remote and immediate causes of the inferno, damage caused and ascertain the actual casualties and proper recommendations on how to avert future occurrence.

Further, the chairman said that in the course of carrying out the mandate, the committee visited and engaged critical stakeholders, security agencies and the affected communities and found the possible remote and immediate causes of the incident.

Additionally, he said the committee undertook assessment visits to various health facilities within and outside the state.

“It was established that, the incident was caused by a number of factors including damaged speed-breaker and potholes located near the scene, night driving and high speed, among others.”

“The inferno was possibly ignited by combined factors including, but not limited to, friction of metallic containers with hard surface or other containers, as victims were scooping the spilled fuel.

On the terms of reference, (TOR) relating to damage caused by the inferno and the families affected, the committee chairman said, “I’m saddened to inform His Excellency that, the incident led to the total loss of 209 lives out of which 38 are on admission and 61 discharge, affecting 167 families.

“It was further discovered that, the inferno resulted in the destruction of properties worth millions of naira.”

To prevent future of similar incidents, the committee recommended some measures which included amongst others: Regular inspection and enforcement of safety protocols for all petroleum transport and other articulated vehicles;

• Upgrading of emergency response centres;
• Establishment of a trauma centre and burns units in health facilities across the State; and;
• Government may consider establishing an agency responsible for the regulation and management of road traffic in the state.

“Government is advised to provide a sustainable empowerment scheme in Majia town such as farm mechanization and irrigation programme, agricultural value addition, skills acquisition, among others.

“Where the victims or their relatives are seemingly old and vulnerable, government should provide them with social protection.

“Government is advised to enroll the most poor and vulnerable victims and their relatives into the Danmodi Care Programme, (DCP)”