A tragic gas cylinder explosion on Christmas Day in Kpakungun, a suburb of Minna, has claimed the life of Zakari Aliyu and left two others, Mohammed Usman Baba and Umar Mohammed, with injuries.
The incident occurred at a vulcanizer shop when the shop owner, Mohammed Usman Baba, reportedly used the gas cylinder for a customer and later placed it to charge.
Eyewitnesses stated that the cylinder overheated, prompting Zakari, an apprentice at the shop, to fetch water to cool it down, a routine practice in such situations.
However, as Zakari poured water on the overheated cylinder, it exploded, killing him instantly and injuring Mohammed and his son.
“As Zakari poured the water on the cylinder, it blew up and scattered his body. The boss and his son also got injured in the event,” one of the eyewitnesses, Faisal Avuya, told The Nation.
Reports indicate that Umar Mohammed, the shop owner’s son, sustained severe stomach injuries and is expected to undergo surgery.
Authorities and locals have called for increased awareness of safety practices when handling gas cylinders to prevent future tragedies.
Explosions Rock Niger Community
Suspected bomb explosions in Bassa community, Shiroro LGA of Niger State, have reportedly killed a farmer, Dauda Haruna, while four others, including three siblings, were severely injured.
Naija News learnt that the incident happened on Thursday morning between Bassa and Gwadara communities when the victims were going to the farm to harvest crops.
Some residents who spoke with Daily Trust said that the first explosion went up while the three siblings, Mali (20), Nehemiah (14) and Jona (15), were on a motorcycle, while the second one went up when the bike of those coming for rescue stepped on it, killing one of the rescuers, Dauda Haruna.
The father of the three children, Mr Enoch, in an interview with the publication above, while at the IBB Specialist Hospital, Minna, where the victims were being treated, said it was the second time bombs would explode this month in Bassa.
He said two of the children and one of the rescuers, Abdullahi Shuaibu, lost one leg each.