A petrol tanker exploded at Majiya Town, Taura Local Government Area, Jigawa State In a devastating incident on Wednesday morning, leading to the loss of lives of over 90 people, with 50 others hospitalised.

The explosion occurred around 12:30 AM when the driver of the tanker, travelling from Kano to Nguru in Yobe State, lost control near Khadija University, Majiya.

According to the Police Public Relations Officer of Jigawa State Command, DSP Lawan Adam, the disaster was triggered by residents who had rushed to collect spilt petrol after the tanker overturned.

Although Channels Television obtained pictures of the badly burned victims, however, could not share them as they were gory.

“The residents were scooping fuel from the overturned tanker when the explosion occurred, sparking a massive inferno that killed 94 people on the spot,” DSP Adam explained.

“The incident left another 50 people severely injured, who were then rushed to Ringim and Hadejia General Hospitals for treatment.”

DSP Adam disclosed that the authorities have commenced a mass burial for the victims on Wednesday morning, with the entire community mourning the loss.

He described the scene as a “horrific tragedy,” emphasising the need for the public to understand the risks associated with scooping fuel from accident scenes.

Commissioner of Police in Jigawa State, AT Abdullahi, expressed his condolences to the families of the deceased and the entire people of Jigawa State.

“This is a heartbreaking moment for us all,” he said. “We share in the pain and sorrow of the families affected. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the bereaved.”

The commissioner called for increased public awareness regarding the dangers of petrol explosions and urged residents to report such incidents to relevant authorities.

“We appeal to the public to notify security agencies or relevant stakeholders when such accidents occur to prevent loss of life. Safety must be our priority,” he added.

Eyewitnesses described the scene as that of chaos and despair, with many struggling to rescue the injured amidst the flames.

A resident, Sani Umar who narrowly escaped the inferno, recounted, “It was terrifying. People were running in all directions, screaming for help. The fire spread so quickly that many couldn’t escape.”

source: CTV

The Nigerian Police Force has said it would ensure that the upcoming governorship election in Ondo State is void of impartiality.

The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun assured on Tuesday at the Goodluck Ebele International Peacekeeping Hall, Force Headquarters, Abuja, in a meeting convened with AIGs and CPs from all formations, zonal and state commands.

The meeting was aimed at reflecting on accomplishments, delineating future strategies, and reinforcing the commitment of the Force to maintaining law and order across the nation.

A statement by the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumiyiwa Adejobi in Abuja, said during the meeting, significant emphasis was placed on the upcoming gubernatorial election in Ondo State, scheduled for November 16th 2024.

Egbetokun said the NPF is fully committed to “impartiality, professionalism, and the highest standards of conduct to safeguard democracy.”

He said rigorous training sessions will be conducted for police personnel to prepare them for their duties, with a focus on conflict resolution and maintaining public order during the elections.

The IGP further announced the senior police officers’ conference and retreat which would take place from November 25th to 28th, 2024, in Abeokuta, Ogun State.

He stressed the indispensable value of camaraderie, teamwork, and shared purpose within the Force, reiterating the importance of collaborative efforts with relevant governmental and non-governmental agencies, as well as community stakeholders, in achieving the nation’s common goals.

“A united front is imperative in tackling the multifaceted security challenges faced by our nation.

“The Nigeria Police Force remains committed to transparency and effective communication with the public and will continue to work diligently to ensure the safety and security of all citizens and maintain law and order across the country,” he said.

Egbetokun’s commitment to the success of the Ondo poll comes after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), announced that collection of the Permanent voters’ cards by registered voters will commence on Thursday.

The INEC National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun, announced this in a statement on Monday.

According to the statement, a total of 89,777 new PVCs were printed and delivered to INEC’s state office in Akure.

This includes 58,708 new voters and 31,069 individuals who applied for transfers, updates, or replacements of lost and damaged PVCs.

PVC collection will be available at two levels across 221 centres in the state.

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a 41-year-old Canadian lady, Adrienne Munju, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA Ikeja Lagos.

She was nabbed on Thursday, October 3 for importing large consignment of ‘Canadian Loud’, a strong strain of synthetic cannabis.

NDLEA spokesman, Femi Babafemi, announced the arrest in a statement on Sunday, saying suspect was apprehended during the inward clearance of passengers on KLM airline flight from Canada at the terminal 1 of the Lagos airport.

“During a joint examination of her three bags, Adrienne who was coming to Nigeria for the first time was found with 74 parcels of the illicit substance weighing 35.20 kilograms stuffed in two of her three bags,” he said.

“In her statement, she claimed she was recruited to traffic the consignment through an online platform for 10,000 Canadian dollars upon successful delivery in Lagos. She said she took the offer because she needed the money to pay for her ongoing master’s degree programme in Canada.”

In different operations, NDLEA operatives at the Port Harcourt Ports, Onne, Rivers State intercepted 13,298,000 pills of opioids including Tramadol, Tramaking Quick Action Tramadol, Tamol-X, Royal Tapentadol and Carisoprodol as well as 338,253 bottles of codeine based cough syrup, all worth over ₦9,017,771,000 in street value.

The opioids were recovered in three containers coming from India, targeted by the NDLEA during a 100% joint examination of the cargoes with men of the Nigerian Customs and other port stakeholders on Wednesday 2nd and Thursday 3rd October 2024.