A gas explosion in Sabon Wuse, Tafa Local Government Area (LGA) of Niger State, has destroyed several vehicles, shops, and foodstuffs, leaving business owners counting their losses.
The Director General of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), Abdullahi Baba-Arah, confirmed the incident on Sunday, stating that while no lives were lost, the destruction was extensive.
The explosion occurred around 11 p.m. on Saturday when a gas tanker was offloading at a local filling station.
Witnesses reported that the blast sent shockwaves through the community, causing panic among residents. The fire quickly spread, reaching a nearby petrol station and engulfing several shops and parked vehicles.
A resident of Sabon Wuse, Musa Aliyu, described the scene as terrifying.
“The fire was so intense that its flames could be seen from different parts of the town. People ran out of their homes in fear. We thank Allah that no one was injured, but the destruction is huge,” he said.
Firefighters arrived after several hours, but by then, the inferno had already consumed valuable goods.
Residents have since urged authorities to implement stricter safety regulations for gas and petrol stations to prevent similar disasters in the future. The explosion serves as a stark reminder of the risks associated with handling flammable substances.