Nigerian farmer Mustapha Majiya is still reeling from losing almost 50 members of his extended family this week after an overturned fuel tanker exploded, sending flames up into a night sky.<\/p>\n
“My nephews, Nuradeen Rabiu, 16, and Dini Babalo, 17, were among those killed. They tried to stop people from getting too close to the tanker and scooping fuel before the explosion,” the 50-year-old resident of Majia town told the BBC.<\/p>\n
The explosion on Tuesday night in the northern state of Jigawa has been described as one of Nigeria\u2019s most-deadly tanker accidents in recent years.<\/p>\n
It has claimed the lives of at least 153 people – many burnt beyond recognition. Of the 100 people wounded in the inferno, several remain in hospital with life-threatening injuries.<\/p>\n
The tanker was full of petrol and had been travelling on a main road through the town that had no street lights when the driver lost control as another vehicle approached.<\/p>\n
When residents realised there was free petrol to be had – people, mostly young men and teenagers, rushed to get buckets and other receptacles to collect the precious liquid.<\/p>\n
Over the last 17 months, the price of petrol has soared in Nigeria – where there are frequent fuel shortages – leading to a cost-of-living crisis.<\/p>\n
Many residents of the farming community did not want to give up the opportunity to stock up, ignoring the warnings from those like Mr Majiya\u2019s nephews, who were both in their fourth year at the town\u2019s secondary school.<\/p>\n
“I just bought them books and new uniforms for the term,” he says in disbelief.<\/p>\n
Mr Majiya also lost a long-time friend, Jamilu Maigaji, in the explosion which took place about an hour after the tanker crashed.<\/p>\n
The 55-year-old was married with two wives and 13 children and had been at the scene as people went to collect fuel, some of which had pooled in a drainage ditch and some scrubland by the side of the highway.<\/p>\n
“Some people were just onlookers and didn\u2019t understand the dangers of being around the scene,” Mr Majiya lamented.<\/p>\n
As a devout Muslim, Mr Majiya says he accepts God\u2019s will as the giver and taker of life.<\/p>\n