A petrol tanker has crashed and spilled fuel along Maiduguri Road near Kiyawa roundabout in Jigawa State, triggering panic as residents gathered around the scene to scoop the product.
The accident occurred at about 9:30 pm on Saturday in Kiyawa Local Government Area, attracting a crowd of residents and passersby who reportedly arrived with buckets, containers and other utensils to collect the spilled petrol despite the danger of a possible fire outbreak.
The incident has renewed concerns over the dangers of fuel scooping, particularly in the state, which witnessed a devastating tanker explosion in October 2024.
The explosion in Majia, Taura Local Government Area, claimed over 170 lives and left several others injured after residents attempted to scoop fuel from a fallen tanker.
However, emergency responders reportedly intervened promptly in the latest incident, preventing residents from approaching the tanker and averting a potential disaster.
Officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps and the Federal Fire Service were said to have mobilised to the scene to contain the situation.
Speaking with journalists on Sunday, the FRSC Public Relations Officer in Jigawa State, Yahaya Ibrahim, said officers of the corps had cordoned off the area to prevent people from getting close to the tanker.
He attributed the accident to the driver falling asleep while driving.
“The driver sustained injuries as a result of the accident,” he said, adding that the driver was receiving medical attention at Kiyawa General Hospital.
The Public Relations Officer of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps in the state, Badaruddeen Tijjani, also confirmed the incident in a telephone interview with our correspondent.
“The tanker fell along Maiduguri Road by Kiyawa roundabout yesterday night around 9:30 pm and started spilling fuel.”
Tijjani said officers of the command were immediately deployed to the scene after receiving the report, adding that they cordoned off the area and controlled the crowd to prevent residents from approaching the spilled fuel.
