Breaking: Another Gas Explosion Rocks Niger State, Destroys Rice Mill, Fuel Tanker
Residents of Sabon Wuse in Tafa Local Government Area of Niger State were thrown into panic on Saturday night as a gas explosion ravaged a station along the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway, destroying properties, including a rice mill and a fuel tanker.
The inferno, which erupted around 10:30 p.m., marked the fourth gas-related explosion in Niger State within a month, raising growing concerns about safety regulations and emergency preparedness in the region.
Eyewitnesses reported that the explosion occurred while a gas-laden tanker was offloading at the station. A resident, David Sakoma, described how flames suddenly engulfed the area, spreading rapidly to nearby structures, including the Ngil Rice Mill. Another resident, Dorcas Andrew, recounted the chaos as people ran for their lives while others watched helplessly as the fire raged.
A video shared by a witness on social media captured the intensity of the explosion, with a male voice lamenting, “See as gas keeps exploding.” The fire narrowly missed a nearby petrol station, preventing what could have been an even greater catastrophe.
Thankfully, no casualties have been reported at the time of this publication. However, the incident follows a tragic twin tanker explosion in Dikko, Gurara Local Government Area, just three weeks ago, which claimed over 90 lives and left 56 others injured. Victims of the Dikko explosion were given a mass burial, while survivors were transferred to Abuja for treatment.
The repeated explosions in Niger State raise urgent questions about the enforcement of safety measures in gas and fuel handling facilities. Just last week, Nigeria’s First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, visited Minna, the state capital, to offer financial support to the families affected by the Dikko explosion.
With this latest disaster occurring only a few meters away from the previous explosion site, residents and stakeholders are calling for stricter regulatory oversight, improved safety protocols, and emergency response preparedness to prevent further loss of lives and property.
