Fear in Jigawa as fallen tanker spills fuel along busy Maiduguri road

Fuel Tanker Spill Causes Alarm in Jigawa State

Kiyawa Local Government Area, Jigawa State—Residents experienced heightened fear and anxiety Saturday night following the spill of petrol from a fallen fuel tanker along the busy Maiduguri Road near the Kiyawa roundabout.

The incident occurred around 9:30 p.m., prompting a surge of onlookers who gathered at the scene. Concerns about a potential fire outbreak escalated as some individuals approached the tanker with buckets and containers, seemingly attempting to collect the spilled fuel.

Yahaya Ibrahim, the Public Relations Officer for the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Jigawa State, confirmed that officials had cordoned off the area to prevent residents from getting too close to the fallen tanker. Ibrahim indicated that driver fatigue was a likely cause of the accident, noting that the driver reportedly fell asleep at the wheel.

“The driver sustained injuries due to the accident,” Ibrahim stated, adding that the individual was receiving medical treatment at Kiyawa General Hospital.

Badaruddeen Tijjani, the Public Relations Officer for the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Jigawa State, also affirmed the details of the incident. He reiterated that the tanker fell and started spilling fuel along Maiduguri Road near the roundabout at approximately 9:30 p.m.

Tijjani reported that NSCDC officers swiftly arrived at the scene to manage the situation and control the crowd. Their intervention was deemed essential to prevent any residents from approaching the tanker and to mitigate the risk of a fire.

This incident brings to mind a tragic event in October 2024, when a tanker explosion in Majia, Taura Local Government Area, resulted in the deaths of over 170 individuals after residents attempted to gather fuel from a fallen vehicle.

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