A petrol tanker explosion in Maje, Suleja local government area of Niger State, yesterday, killed four persons and injured scores of others.
LEADERSHIP gathered that the tanker killed one of the conductors who was identified as Ibrahim and a woman Halima Sadiya.
The explosion occurred at about 8.30am when the tanker, in an attempt to park by the road side, was gutted by fire that extended to the private residence of Mallam Dahiru Lada where the woman, Halima, had visited her sister.
LEADERSHIP learnt that the tanker conductor died as he was unable to get out of the fire, while Halima was trapeed in the house as she tried to rescue a child.
It was also learnt that those injured were those who were in the house of Mallam Lada when the incident took place.
The chairman of Suleja local government area, Hon Yunusa Adamu, who had attended the burial of those who lost their lives in accordance with Islamic rite, prayed for the repose of the souls of the deceased.
He also disclosed that the council would bear the responsibility of the hospital bill of those injured in the accident and who are receiving treatment at Suleja general hospital.
Hon Adamu said that as part of the measure to forestall a reoccurrence, he would expedite action in the plan to build an additional park in the area so that tankers would not park on the road.
A survivor who was present when the incident occurred, Mustapha Mohammed, told leadership that when occurred, everybody was confused as to what to do.
Also Medinat Dauda who witnessed the incident said that everyone living around the affected house were either struggling for dear life or trying to rescue the little property they could.
She said that, at least, within just few hours, properties worth millions were lost.
Meanwhile, the commander of the federal road safety corps in the area, Mr Edwin Nwokike, confirmed that four persons lost their lives and two were injured and receiving treatment in Suleja general hospital and Abuja university teaching hospital in Gwagwalada respectively,
Meanwhile, the spokesman for the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Yushau Shuaibu, has confirmed that the explosion also consumed two houses and 27 shops.
He insisted that only two persons were killed in the explosion, adding that the injured had been taken to hospital for medical attention.
SOURCE: 3 September 2012.
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